School: Carraig Bhuí, Durrus, Beanntraí (roll number 16286)

Location:
Carrigboy, Co. Cork
Teacher:
Ml. Ó Gallchobhair
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The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0285, Page 082

Archival Reference

The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0285, Page 082

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  1. XML School: Carraig Bhuí, Durrus, Beanntraí
  2. XML Page 082
  3. XML “Marriage Customs”

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  1. Most of the old marriage customs are rapidly dying out in Ireland. Modern weddings entail motor-cars, silks, jewels, and flowers, and, after the ceremony, dinner at some fashionable hotel or restaurant. This is very beautiful and both impressing and imposing but its magnificient grandeur, its pomp and splendour, cannot in a small measure compare with a typical Irish country wedding and its quaint superstitions and vivid and lovely customs.
    In olden times marriages were celebrated in the houses and a great feast ensued, but this has been abolished and the pair are always married at the Church. It is the custom to pelt them with rice as they leave after the ceremony or to throw an old slipper after them. An old boot is sometimes tied to the back of the car as a token of good luck.
    Before motor-cars were invented the families raced to the church on horse-back. After the ceremony was completed the bride mounted the horse behind her spouse and they started the homeward journey at top speed.
    The straw-boys visited the house in the afternoon and the host had to treat them to a sumptious repast. They were dressed in straw as
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    Transcribed by a member of our volunteer transcription project.
    Topics
    1. activities
      1. social activities (~7)
        1. rites of passage (~573)
          1. marriage (~4,283)
    Language
    English
    Collector
    Breda Mac Carthy
    Gender
    Female
    Address
    Coolcoulaghta, Co. Cork