Explained to me by Michael Flanagan of Cormongan Parish of Drumshanbo or properly called by the old people and yet by the Diocesan Reports Parish of Murhaun.
The Poor Widow
At the wake one gets out on the floor and sings the following verse or hums it in monotone voice.
I am a poor widow that comes from Athlone
I married my daughters them all but one
Go away daughters and choose your own
Choose your own
Choose a good man or else choose none
My daughter she's married and married away
And all my good people then do as I say
Do as I say
The boy that recites this then calls out a girl and she recites it and calls out a boy and so on till a number are on the floor. A girl then says I'd rather have so and so for a husband not the boy that called her out. Then the man she names makes a hold for her and the boy that called her tries to keep her. Used to be [?] if the boys had [?].
(continues on next page)
