School: Leac Snámha (B.) (roll number 10957)

Location:
Lixnaw, Co. Kerry
Teacher:
Dáithí. B. Ó Duilleáin

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Food in Olden Times

Archival Reference

The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0411, Page 148

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About eighty years ago potatoes and milk were the staple food of this country. People who lived at that time were robust and healthy and enjoyed such food. A big pot of potatoes was cooked each morning and spread upon the table for breakfast. Very few could afford to use butter with the potatoes and they used salt instead. They dipped the potatoes in salt and ate a hearty meal of them. This was followed by a mug of home-skimmed milk. This kind of meal was known as "Potatoes and peg the table". It is called that name because when they were eating their meals they used to peg the potatoes against the salt upon the table and then eat them. In most cases this menu was repeated three times daily and where people lived near the sea they were able to procure fresh fish and used it with

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Collector
John Quilter
Gender
male
Address
Ballyhennessy, Co. Kerry
Informant
Michael Dowling
Gender
male
Address
Ballintogher, Co. Kerry
Language
English