Animals
The calls for animals used here are as follows:-
Hens:- "Chick,chick, chick".
Cows:- "How" or "Hup".
When cows are being called (the above being for driving purpose) the people say:- "Suckie, suckie, suckie".
Pigs:- "Chock, chock,chock".
If the house is for one pig it is called a sty,and if for a number, a piggery.
Goats:- "nanny, nanny, nanny, maa".
Turkeys:- "bee, bee, bee".
Ducks:- "leek, leek, leek".
If the horse is to go right, say "Whop" or left, "Wooh" (for ploughing).
Food for cows is in most cases called fodder, but for most other animals it is called food.
Eggs for hatch are called a setting. The hen going to hatch them is called a clocker. The number of eggs set is always odd for luck. They are never set on Friday, as it is unlucky.
Alan Owens
6, strand st, Skerries, Co Dublin