School: Donabate (C.)
- Location:
- Donabate, Co. Dublin
- Teacher: Bean Mhic Alasdair
Archival Reference
The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0789, Page 326
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- XML School: Donabate (C.)
- XML Page 326
- XML “Cures”
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- CURES The most famous "curers" in the district were the Barnes family and one person in each generation held the gift. It was passed on from parent to child. The present holder, Mr James Barnes, does not make use of his gift and has to be coaxed to perform a cure. Yet many cures are attributed to him especially diseases of the skin. Herbs he uses but never tells that they are.
His mother, though, was famous. People came from far and near to have their ailments cured and 'tis said she never failed. She, too, used herbs from which she made ointments given to the sufferer. If one person had a complaint a loan of "Mrs Barnes ointment" from another was a sure cure or a drink from a bottle mixed by her.
The present holder has no descendants (children of his own) and we often wonder who will be the lucky one after him The family live on a farmers place in the middle of Barnes' Lane a short cut to the Burrow. It branches off the Portrane - Donabate road about half(continues on next page)
