School: Drumloughan (Dromlachan) (roll number 15665)
- Location:
- Sunnagh More, Co. Leitrim
- Teacher: Peadar Mac Giolla Choinnigh
Archival Reference
The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0221, Page 017
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On this page
- (all still played in this district of Leitrim)
Children sit closely round fire in circle. Each child puts out his two feet, all the feet making a semi-circle around fire. One child takes tongs and at each word of the following rhyme strikes lightly the foot of a child one after another going round the circle.
Éarl, wéarl, limber, lock,
We sat, we sang till daylight sprang,
In came Todd with his long rod,
And chased us all from wall to wall,
Alice, my dear! will you lend me your spear
To fight the king for some of his beer,
White cow, black cow, Barney’s sheaf,
I tied my dog to the door safe.
The foot on which the word ‘safe’ falls is drawn in and the rhyming and striking continues until only one foot is left. Soot is then taken from the hob, mixed with water on a saucer and smeared on the face of the child whose foot was left last out.The Glowing Cipín or Stick:
Children sit around fire. One takes a glowing piece of stick a cipín. The child moves it around briskly in a circle with his one hand, saying while whirling the stick:-(continues on next page)
