School: Drumakill (roll number 6365)

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1. Old Crafts - Scutching

   

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   Even about thirty years ago there were no scutch mills as now driven by water or steam. People scutched in their own homes and it was a slow process. They had little wooden stands over which they held the fistful of raw flax with the left hand and with a small wooden beater they struck the flax until the shous or two was all beaten away and the clean flax was left. Scutching was done at night and two pounds of flax was supposed to be a good nights work. Neighbours joined to help each other and there were scutching parties from house to house.

   

   Transcribed by a member of our volunteer transcription project.

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2. Old Crafts - Dyeing

   

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   There does not seem to be much account of the dyeing industry in this locality. The woven tweed was worn often in its natural colour. The juice of blackberries was the only thing I have heard of being used to dye cloth. All the dyed clothes were a blue shade. Women's clothes were light blue and mens clothes dark blue.

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   Topics

   1. activities
      1. economic activities
         1. trades and crafts (~4,680)
            1. dyeing (~134)

   Language

   English

   Collector

   Peggy Mc Creedy

   Gender

   Female

   Address

   Longfield, Co. Monaghan

   Informant

   Mrs Mc Creedy

   Gender

   Female

   Address

   Corrintra, Co. Monaghan