School: Berrings (Measctha) (roll number 4186)
- Location:
- Berrings, Co. Cork
- Teacher: Domhnall Ó Drisceoil
Archival Reference
The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0348, Page 114
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- XML School: Berrings (Measctha)
- XML Page 114
- XML “Domestic Animals”
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- The domestic animals which we have at home are cows, horses, calves, pigs, sheep, dogs, cats and fowl.
The cows are driven into a house, called a stall, to be milked in this district. When the weather is fine the cows are driven out again as they would be better off outside, but during the winter nights when the rain falls and sometimes comes, the cows are kept inside and are fed with hay, turnips and other food stuffs.
When the cows go into the stall they put their head between two upright sticks. On ground is a beam of timber which supports the stalls and about five feet higher is another beam of timber which keeps the stalls firm. When the cow puts her head into the stalls someone shuts the stalls. If cows are cross they are spanseled, that is a rope is tied around their hind legs. This is done when people are milking the cows. If cows are in the habit of breaking into harm a rope is tied from one of their horns to one of their foremost legs. This prevents the cow from breaking into harm as she cannot jump fences.
Sometimes people sing or whistle when they are milking cows as the cows remain quiet and give their milk better. People also "Óir-anior" to the cows if they begin(continues on next page)
- Collector
- Con O Herlihy
- Gender
- Male
- Address
- Berrings, Co. Cork
