School: Druim Mór (roll number 16278)

Location:
Dromore, Co. Sligo
Teacher:
Seosamh Ó Catháin
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The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0166, Page 230

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The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0166, Page 230

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  1. XML School: Druim Mór
  2. XML Page 230
  3. XML “Rush Candles”

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  1. Long ago when there were no lamps to show light in the houses at night-time rush-candles were used. In these days the making of candles was a necessity in every house. They pulled the thick rushes and peeled the bigger part of the skin off them. They left a strip of green skin along the inside of the rush, which is white and fairly soft. If this strip was not left the rush would break easily. Then the melted sheep's lard and drew the white rush backwards and forwards through the melted tallow until it became saturated. Then they lit one of two each night. When the supply of rush-candles was almost used they made more rush candles.
    (continues on next page)
    Transcribed by a member of our volunteer transcription project.
    Topics
    1. activities
      1. economic activities
        1. trades and crafts (~4,680)
          1. candle-making (~728)
    Language
    English
    Collector
    Sara Browne
    Gender
    Female
    Address
    Portaghbradagh, Co. Sligo
    Informant
    Pat Culkin
    Gender
    Male
    Age
    58
    Address
    Portaghbradagh, Co. Sligo