School: Sliabh na Lice, Sráid na Cathrach

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1. The Pattern (Patron) - Garland Sunday (continued)

   

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   The name Garland Sunday is used generally at the present time and we very often hear, in these districts on the week previous to the last Sunday in July one youth putting the question to another, 'Are you going to Garlic,' 'Garlic' being a corruption of Garland.
   On this day every householder was supposed to feast his family on the first fruits, and the farmer who failed to provide his people with new potatoes, new bacon and white cabbage, on that day was called a 'Feirmeoir gaoithe.'

   If a man dug new potatoes before this day he was called a 'Needy Farmer.' This practice lasted down to a very recent date. I myself knew three farmers in this district who would on no account dig new potatoes until the eve before Garland Sunday and they would certainly dig them that eve.

   The term 'Garland' had its origin in the custom of strewing flowers on Altóir na Gréine in Pagan Days, in honour to 'Crom Dubh'. The practice of strewing the flowers lasted until the early part of the 19th Century.
   Many games were played here on this day. There was a feast and later came the games.

   In time the priests and wise old men of the district grew tired of the practices carried on at Mount Callan. They advised the people to give them up.

   To divert the minds of the people the priests set up a pilgrimage to the well of Mochua Gacigtha [?]. This well is situated in the townland of Mougha [?] in the parish of Ennistymon. Here the old and proud performed rounds at St. Mochua's holy well while the young enjoyed themselves with hurling , football, dancing etc.

   The pattern was later on changed to Lahinch. O'Connor King of Western Corcomoroe was buried in Lahinch. His leacht or

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   Transcribed by a member of our volunteer transcription project.

   History Edit

   Topics

   1. events
      1. events (by time of year) (~11,476)

   Languages

   Irish

   English

   Informant

   Antoine Ó Conmhuigh

   Gender

   Male

   Age

   70

   Address

   Ballynew, Co. Clare