School: Moynalvey (roll number 7567)
- Location:
- Moynalvy, Co. Meath
- Teacher: Mrs Bridget M. Kelly
Archival Reference
The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0689, Page 230
Image and data © National Folklore Collection, UCD.
See copyright details.
DownloadOpen data
Available under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)
- XML School: Moynalvey
- XML Page 230
- XML “Local Marriages”
Note: We will soon deprecate our XML Application Programming Interface and a new, comprehensive JSON API will be made available. Keep an eye on our website for further details.
On this page
- (continued from previous page)to the wedding came as "Strawboys" with the strange men. The "Strawboys" wore "false faces" and women's clothes. The word "Strawboy" originated from ancient times, when the boys wore sheafs of straw on their heads, legs and bodies.
When the "Strawboys" entered the house the floor was cleared, leaving it ready for them to dance. The bride had always to dance with their captain. When they were going, the bridegroom had to give them some money. If he was a rich man he would have to give them one or two pounds. If the "Strawboys thought they did not receive enough money they would commence fighting and demanding more money.
- Collector
- Brigid O' Brien
- Gender
- Female
- Age
- 12
- Address
- Ballygortagh, Co. Meath
- Informant
- Hugh O' Brien
- Gender
- Male
- Address
- Ballygortagh, Co. Meath
