School: Gortnessy (roll number 7235)
- Location:
- Gortinessy, Co. Donegal
- Teacher: M. Nic Sheáin
Archival Reference
The Schools’ Collection, Volume 1030, Page 378
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- XML School: Gortnessy
- XML Page 378
- XML “Old Crafts - Thatching”
- XML “Rope-Making”
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- The straw used for thatching must be clean. Oat, wheat or. rye straw can be used. If these cannot be obtained houses are sometimes thatched with rushes but these are not so good as straw.Rods used for thatching are called scallops, the “sally” or willow rods are best, they are. sharpened at each end and twisted to make a loop. These loops hold the thatch together. A layer of straw is put down and rods are put at the side to hold it down. It is clipped with a knife to make it look neat.
- Long grass is used to make ropes. A kind known as “sprit” is best. When grass has been dried one man takes a small amount of it in his hands and lets it out by degrees to a second man. who twists it into a rope with a “twister” make. of wood and wire.
- Collector
- Johnnie Elliott
- Gender
- Male
- Address
- Drumawark, Co. Donegal
- Informant
- Mr O' Hare
- Gender
- Male
- Address
- Pettigoe, Co. Donegal
