School: Na Cnocáin (roll number 13150)

Location:
Knockanes, Co. Kerry
Teachers:
Bean Uí Spealáin Máiréad Ní Laoghaire
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The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0456, Page 327

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The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0456, Page 327

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  1. XML School: Na Cnocáin
  2. XML Page 327
  3. XML “The Duel”
  4. XML “How Tallow Candles Were Made”

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  1. When we killed a cow at home we rendered the fat by cutting it up small and putting it in an oven with red coals underneath. The oven was tilted. As the melted fat streamed down to the tilted side we took it out with a very large spoon. From this fat we made tallow candles.
    There were tin candle moulds. Through the mould we put a double thread - the double end on top. Through this double end we put a nail. At the pointed end of the mould were the two ends of the thread. These were knotted and the mould stuck down by the pointed end into a hole in the sod of turf.
    The fat was melted in an old saucepan poured from this into a jug and from the jug to the mould - being careful that the wick was kept in the middle of the candle.
    These little home industries saved the people much money.
    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
    Informant
    Máiréad B. Ní Spealáin
    Gender
    Female
    Age
    45
    Address
    Headfort, Co. Kerry