School: Maigh Locha (Buachaillí)

Location:
Moylough, Co. Galway
Teacher:
Muiris Ó Héigeartaigh

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Wakes and Funerals

Archival Reference

The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0081, Page 043

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There were a lot of old customs carried on in connection with wakes and funerals.
When the person died the clocks were stopped Then three women with three pieces of cloths, three pieces of soap and three basins of water washed the body.
When the body was washed the cloths, soap and water were buried where no one could walk on them, generally in the but of a ditch.
Three men always went to town to order the funeral requirements. Three men had to go on every errand in connection with the funeral.
The three women who washed the corpse put the corpse into the coffin and the three men closed it.
One of the three men filled clay-pipes with tobacco. The other two looked after the drink and refreshments.
A plate of snuff was left on the

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Collector
T. O' Connor
Gender
male
Informant
Michale Scarry
Age
78
Address
Moylough, Co. Galway
Language
English