School: Rathdowney (B.) (roll number 15595)
- Location:
- Rathdowney, Co. Laois
- Teacher: P. Ó Héigceartaigh
Archival Reference
The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0828, Page 017
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- XML School: Rathdowney (B.)
- XML Page 017
- XML “Local Fairs”
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- The fair is held every third Thuesday of the month except in the month of June. It is held in June in a little village called Donaghmore which is about two miles north of Rathdowney.
There is no fair green in Rathdowney and the (T) fairs are held through the streets.
Long ago the word "Aonach" ment a gathering of people for fun and then all the people would meet and they would see and buy cattle and horses and that is how the fairs began.
When cattle are sold they are marked with raddle or sometimes the men get a piece of mud on a stick and mark them with it. When farmers sell the cattle to another man they always strik each other's hands to show that they are satisfied with the bargain.
The toll is always paid on sold cattle to a man names Mr. Barter and if(continues on next page)
- Collector
- John Smeaton
- Gender
- Male
- Address
- Rathdowney, Co. Laois
- Informant
- Mr Joe Brian
- Gender
- Male
- Age
- c. 78
- Address
- Rathdowney, Co. Laois
