School: Séipéal na Carraige (roll number 5478)

Location:
Rockchapel, Co. Cork
Teacher:
Donncha Ó Géibheannaigh

Filter stories

Back
/ 274 Forward
Resolution: Low | High
Séipéal na Carraige | The Schools’ Collection

Archival Reference

The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0351, Page 193

Image and data © National Folklore Collection, UCD. See copyright details »

On this page

In years gone by, it was the custom for school girls to wear on their right shoulder a cross in honour of Saint Bridget on the first of February.
These crosses were made by the girls themselves. For weeks beforehand, they would be collecting pieces of coloured silk and this would be cut in little pieces, about one inch and a half long and a half-inch wide and put criss cross on a piece of cardboard, cut in the shape of a cross. They were sewn on firmly.
These crosses were very nice and it is a pity the custom has died out. There used be great competition between the girls, as to which would have the nicest cross.

There were no dolls long ago, like there are now, so little girls had to make their own. Very nice ones were made of pieces of old, worn cloth for the stuffing, to make the body. Nice little pieces of bright, coloured material for the clothes.

(continues on next page)
Collector
Bridie Keating
Gender
female
Informant
Bridget Keating
Gender
female
Address
Rockhill West, Co. Cork
Language
English