School: Curraigh (B.) (roll number 12066)
- Location:
- Curry, Co. Sligo
- Teacher: Peadar Ó Braonáin
Archival Reference
The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0170, Page 0432
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- Blackfoot: An old game played in this area 40 years ago.
A group of children sit round the fire in a ring. They wish to find out which child does not wash his feet regularly. Each child puts forward this right foot. One child takes charge of the game.
The following is the rhyme:
"My father went to Brandyhill.
He had gold, he had rings,
He had many pretty things,
Up jack, down Tom,
Blow the bellows, sound man,
En-in-oil, gather in tale,
Black foot in."
The child in charge starts at this first foot, and uses a syllable on each foot round the ring. The child on whose foot the word "in" falls, then draws in this foot. The process is continuous until only one foot is left. The owner of that foot is then dubbed "Blackfoot" and he has to bear the name until the game is played some other time.
