School: Cill Tormóir (Kiltormer) (Buachaillí)

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1. Toy-Making

   

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   Toy Making

   When Christmas is coming near we are always looking forward to see what kind of toys Santa Claus will put in our stockings. In these days toys are very plentiful. In nearly every town a toy-shop is to be found and the toys can be bought at a very low price. Long ago toys were not to be found and the children depended on their parents to make toys for them.

   My father told me of a toy his father made for him when he was young. It was a bow and arrow. First he got a strong sally stick and tied a leather thong to one end of it. Then he bent the stick into a half circle and tied the other end of it. When he had that finished he got scollops and pointed them. He put the pointed end on the stick and the other end against the thong. Then he pulled the thong and let it go again. The force of the thong going back into it's place sent the stick up into the air with great speed.

   Another toy which was made at that time was a flute. He got a long piece of an elder stick and burned the pith out of it with a red hot iron. Then he put six holes in it for the fingers and one big one to blow into. He topped one of the ends of it and it was then ready to be played and it made very sweet music. Many tunes could be played on it.

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   Transcribed by a member of our volunteer transcription project.

   History Edit

   Topics

   1. activities
      1. social activities (~7)
         1. entertainments and recreational activities (~5,933)
            1. toys (~1,598)

   Language

   English

   Collector

   Michael Greaney

   Gender

   Male

   Address

   Kiltormer, Co. Galway