School: Lathaigh (Laghey)

Location:
Laghy, Co. Donegal
Teacher:
Proinsias Mac Pháidín

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Flax Growing

Archival Reference

The Schools’ Collection, Volume 1032, Page 088

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Long ago flax growing was a common crop in this county. Nearly every farmer grew some of it and there was a good price for it also.
About the beginning of May flax seed is sown and it is left until the end of September to ripen. It is then cut and stooked. When it is stooked for a while it is drawn to a pond. It is then left in the water for nine or ten days. Then it is trown [?] out and spread on a field to dry. When it is dry enough it is made into sheaves and stacked. It is then left for a while to season and it is drawn away to the nearest scutch mill to be cleaned. Then it is taken away to a factory and woven into linen.

Collector
Liam Gorman
Gender
male
Address
Greaghs, Co. Donegal
Informant
John Hilley
Relation
unknown
Gender
male
Age
circa 50
Address
Greaghs, Co. Donegal
Language
English