School: Abhainn Bheag (roll number 3924)
- Location:
- Owenbeg, Co. Sligo
- Teacher: Criostóir Mac Gáfraidh
Archival Reference
The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0165, Page 191
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- XML Page 191
- XML “Local Marriage Customs”
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- During the last decade the number of annual marriages have decreased considerably. All marriages are celebrated in the parish church, and there is no evidence that marriages were celebrated in a house in living memory. A few marriage customs which have come down from former days still prevail in the district.
Match-making is (been) practised among all classes of the community. The man who wishes to marry visits the house of the prospective bride with a relative or friend. The relative has to introduce the subject on arrival, certain arrangements are made, and the girl usually gets money as dowry.
A marriage-feast is held in the house of the bride's parents (house) and a local fiddle-player supplies the music. Straw-boys visit the house and are entertained by the people of the house. On arrival the straw-boys who are always disguised place the bride on the chair, and raise her up three times in succession.
Then they go through the(continues on next page)
- Collector
- Maggie Gibson
- Gender
- Female
- Informant
- Alick Gibson
- Gender
- Male
- Address
- Fortland, Co. Sligo
