School: Maigh Locha (Buachaillí)

Location:
Moylough, Co. Galway
Teacher:
Muiris Ó Héigeartaigh
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The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0081, Page 018

Archival Reference

The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0081, Page 018

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  1. XML School: Maigh Locha (Buachaillí)
  2. XML Page 018
  3. XML “Folklore - Old Crafts - Nail-Making”

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  1. There was a nail maker in Mount-Bellew called Tom Fury. He made his living by making nails as he was a nail-maker by trade.
    He had a small anvil, a bellows, a hammer and a coal fire on the hearth. He used rod iron for making the nails. He worked two pieces of this iron at the same time. While he was working with one piece the other piece was heating. Therefore he lost no time.
    There iis an old saying which is repeated to busy people "You are as busy as a nailer". Tom Fury had a nail cutter and when the iron was red he got the cutter and cut a piece off. Then he pointed the nail and cut it to the required length.
    He had a box under the cutter and the nails dropped into it.
    The nails were sold by the pound and the bigger the nail was the dearer the
    (continues on next page)
    Transcribed by a member of our volunteer transcription project.
    Topics
    1. activities
      1. economic activities
        1. trades and crafts (~4,680)
          1. nail-making (~117)
    Language
    English
    Collector
    T. O' Connor
    Informant
    Michale Scarry
    Gender
    Female
    Age
    78
    Address
    Moylough, Co. Galway