School: Mullinahone (C.) (roll number 15363)
- Location:
- Mullinahone, Co. Tipperary
- Teacher: Máire Ní Shéaghdha
Archival Reference
The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0560, Page 298
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- XML School: Mullinahone (C.)
- XML Page 298
- XML “Culm Ball Making”
- XML “Pop-Gun for Culm Balls”
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- Slack for culm was formerly purchased at Slievardagh at 1 1/2d and 2 1/2d per cwt. Twenty to thirty women were often employed by one man to make balls. Each woman made a ton of balls in a day. They were paid 1/ per day wages and one meal. It was customary to work culm on side of street in Mullinahone.Culm is often "worked" or "tempered" by means of a horse and car. The car is filled with stones to make a heavy weight.Nowadays most culm balls are made by means of a "pop gun" or "pork gun".
- The pop-gun consists of a long handle with a steel funnel at one end whose diameter is 11/4" and length 2 to 21/2".
To make the balls pull the handle and insert it in culm. Release ball by pressing a rod which goes through centre of the handle. - Collector
- Mary Gleeson
- Gender
- Female
- Address
- Kilvemnon, Co. Tipperary
- Informant
- John Kickham
- Gender
- Male
- Age
- 46
- Occupation
- Farmer
- Address
- Ballydavid, Co. Tipperary
