School: Brosna (B.) (roll number 13018)
- Location:
- Brosna, Co. Kerry
- Teacher: Aonghus Ó Laochdha
Archival Reference
The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0449, Page 302
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- On Spinning LinenLong ago the people grew flax in this locality. They grew it in big "plots" and in boggy ground. They set it in April and it was ripe in June. When it was fully grown it was two feet high. On the top of it was a beautiful blue flower. Before setting it the ground was ploughed and harrowed. Then they made it into plots and covered the seed with black earth.Then it was pulled and thrown into a pool of water. They left it in the water for about three weeks to soften it. Then they brought it into the house and placed it on a shelf over the fire. Then when it was fully dry they took it down and spread it on the floor to pound it. They had a bittle for pounding it. When it was well pounded they put it through a clovir [?] tongs to separate the tow from the straw. This tongs was like a timber scissors. They caught the scissors in one hand and shaff in the other. Then they put it through the tongs and pulled it, then the tow fell and the other thing was like hair. Then they spun the thread with a linen spinning wheel. It was like a big frame. The weaver had two spools one in each hand(continues on next page)
