School: Stoneyford, Thomastown (roll number 3029)
- Location:
- Stonyford, Co. Kilkenny
- Teacher: Finghín Mac Íobhair
Archival Reference
The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0849, Page 034
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- XML School: Stoneyford, Thomastown
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- XML “Wild Birds”
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- Wild Birds (21-2-38)
A great number of birds are commonly found in this district such as:- the Thrush, the robin, the crow and the lark. Those birds do not migrate, but stay with us the whole year round. How I can account for this is because they are seen daily. The thrush builds her nest with moss and clay in a bush and lays five blue eggs. The robin builds it in a tree with moss and feathers. The crow builds it in a tree with sticks and clay and lays seven white eggs. The lark builds it in furze and lays five brown eggs. The weather can be judged by the ways of certain birds. When the crows are soaring high it is a sign of a storm. If the swallows fly low it is a sign of rain and when they fly high it is a sign of fine weather. If boys are found robbing birds nests the guards are sent after them. There is a store told of how the robin got its red breast. It is said that when Our Lord was hanging on the cross, the robin picked the thorns out of His head. A drop of blood fell on the robins breast, and after that every robin has a red breast.
- Collector
- Edward Drea
- Gender
- Male
- Address
- Oldtown, Co. Kilkenny
- Informant
- William Drea
- Gender
- Male
- Age
- 54
- Address
- Oldtown, Co. Kilkenny
