School: Achadh Dúin, An Sciobairín (roll number 16149)

On this page

1. Local Customs

   

   Share Share Post

   The spilling of salt is of course, considered a sign of a quarrel, as also is the crossing of two knives. Three candles lighting together are regarded as a sign of a wedding or a wake. To sing at one's meals is a sign of a disappointment, as also is meeting a person on the stairs. Seeing a red haired woman in the morning is an omen of ill-luck. A dog crying in the night is a prophesy of death. Sparks jumping towards a person from the fire indicate, it is said a promise of money. A cat with his back to the fire or sea-gulls inland are portents of broken weather. To carry round inadvertently a lighted lamp in one's hand, or to put on an article of clothing inside out are considered omens of good luck. To come across a pin in the morning or a four-holed object like a button, is a great promise of good fortune. "Meet a pin and pick it up all the day you will have good luck. It is not right to dip a milky vessel into a well, Milky water must not be thrown into a stream but on dry ground. The person who pours out the first cup of tea of a meal must also pour out the others. The afterbirth when a cow calves must be placed on a near by hedge. It is unlucky to be licked by a cow. It is not customry to comment on the condition of cows[?]

   (continues on next page)

   

   Transcribed by a member of our volunteer transcription project.

   History Edit

   Language

   English

   Collector

   Evelyn Brookes

   Gender

   Female

   Address

   Letterscanlan, Co. Cork

   Informant

   Patrick O' Driscoll

   Gender

   Male

   Age

   85

   Address

   Skeagh, Co. Cork