School: Dún Flainn (roll number 9669)

Location:
Doonflin Upper, Co. Sligo
Teacher:
Seán Ó Maolagáin
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The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0169, Page 134

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The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0169, Page 134

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  1. XML School: Dún Flainn
  2. XML Page 134
  3. XML “Taking the Butter - charms”

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  1. Up to quite a short time ago people in this district occasionally lost their butter; that is when they churned no butter came on the milk. It was said that someone had the power of taking it. This was confirmed by the amount of butter some particular neighbour had even though his number of cows was small. Any stranger, that is anyone not belonging to the household, was and is always sure to takea "few dashes" on entering if churning is going on for fear he or she would take the butter. Then again if a person took a coal or a kindled piece of turf to light his pipe he was supposed to take the butter. May morning was carefully observed because if you gave milk or butter that morning you lost your butter to the person you gave it to. It is said that on this morning, before sunrise, the people suspected, or who had the power to take butter, were out early andif they could get their
    (continues on next page)
    Transcribed by a member of our volunteer transcription project.
    Topics
    1. activities
      1. economic activities
        1. agriculture (~2,659)
    Language
    English
    Collector
    Myles Tempany
    Gender
    Male
    Address
    Skreen, Co. Sligo