School: Cnoc na Biolaraighe
- Location:
- Watergrasshill, Co. Cork
- Teacher: Dll. Mac Carrthaigh
Archival Reference
The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0382, Page 086
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- XML School: Cnoc na Biolaraighe
- XML Page 086
- XML “Old Crafts in the Locality - Homemade Candles”
- XML “Old Crafts in the Locality - The Old Spinning Wheel”
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- Candles were made in olden days principally from the fat of sheep or cows. The fat was first melted and stored into jars and kept safely until the time of use. Candles were made in every house with a metal mould. The mould was similar in shape to a bicycle pump without the piston. There was a small hole in the end of the mold the same as is in the pump. Awick made from cotton thread was put through this hole and kept in the centre of the mould with the aid of a nail. The tallow was remelted and poured into the mould and left set for about a quarter of an hour. It was then dropped out of the mould. The mould was then refilled and the work continued in this way until a large number of candles were made.
- The old spinning wheel was composed of a stool about five feet long one foot wide with four legs about two and a half feet long. On one end of the stool there was an upright about three feet long with a timber axle about a foot long and two inches in diameter. On this(continues on next page)
- Collector
- William Flaherty
- Gender
- Male
- Informant
- Denis Flaherty
- Relation
- Parent
- Gender
- Male
- Age
- 55
- Address
- Meenane, Co. Cork
