School: Cluain na Cille (roll number 9216)
- Location:
- Cloonakille, Co. Roscommon
- Teacher: Eithne , Bean Uí Fhallamhain
Archival Reference
The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0270, Page 205
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- "My Man John"
It was customary in this district in former times to play games of different kinds at wakes. In fact, some of the men had quite a reputation as leaders of those games.
One of the most popular was called "The Priest of the Parish" which was played in this way.
The players sat in a circle and each put a name "Priest of the Parish" "My Man John" "Green Cap" "White Cap" and so on. The man in charge was called "The Master"
He held a lighted candle in his hand and a cork charred in the flame.
He repeated the following rhyme "the Priest of the parish has lost his considering cap, some say this, some say that and some say "My man John" or "White Cap". calling on the players at random.
The player named would have to be on the alert, and the(continues on next page)
