School: The Downs (roll number 8875)
- Location:
- The Downs, Co. Westmeath
- Teacher: S. Molloy
Archival Reference
The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0730, Page 131
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- XML School: The Downs
- XML Page 131
- XML “Thatching”
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On this page
- Thatching.
Long ago it was all thatched houses in this district.
The people use to thatch the houses themselves.
First they would thresh the oats very well so that no grain would remain in the straw.
Then they would put the straw in a flat heap and throw plenty of water on it to leave it limber.
They would then go to a bog and cut some sallys and point them at each end.
Then there was a ladder put up against the house.
One man stayed on the ladder when he was thatching and another man handed him the bundles of straw.
He would twist the top of the straw and put it in through the old thatch, then he would put the sally in through it to make it firm.(continues on next page)
- Collector
- Betty Dunne
- Gender
- Female
- Address
- The Downs, Co. Westmeath
- Informant
- Michael Dunne
- Gender
- Male
- Age
- 64
- Address
- The Downs, Co. Westmeath
