School: Cloonmorris (roll number 12496)

On this page

1. Buying and Selling (continued)

   

   Share Share Post

   (continued from previous page)

   the price expected. The buyer bids so much a head, often people try to split the difference etc. Often a sale lasts a long while before the bargain is completed. The clapping of hands is a sign that the bargain is completed. The purchaser marks the cattle with a scissors in the hair, each buyer having his own particular mark. Other buyers mark with a saddle or a piece of manure that they lift on the tops of their sticks and throw it on the cattle's hips. When the time of payment comes the seller always gives the buyer a 'luck penny', that is some of the money back from 1/- to 2/6. The buyer has to pay 4d custom on each animal.

   In olden times, goods were sold and exchanged after Mass. In olden times shops were very few and people who owned them only sold small quantities. The usual goods bought in a shop were 2oz tea, 1lb sugar, 1 loaf, 1oz tobacco and a candle. The people who owned shops long ago, made most profit by selling porter at two pence a pint. Long ago the women went to the nearest towns on asses and carts, with their eggs and butter and sold them. They also sold churns of buttermilk, at one penny a gallon. The people did not buy much groceries long ago, because they fed on stirabout, potatoes and buttermilk. Debt was usually paid by work and articles.

   Long ago Hawkers, pedlars and rag-men used

   (continues on next page)

   

   Transcribed by a member of our volunteer transcription project.

   History Edit

   Topics

   1. activities
      1. economic activities
         1. trade
            1. buying and selling (~3,622)

   Language

   English

   Collector

   Bridie Beirne

   Gender

   Female

   Age

   14

   Address

   Cloonmorris, Co. Leitrim

   Informant

   Willie Geelan

   Gender

   Male

   Age

   13

   Address

   Cloontumpher, Co. Leitrim