School: Knockaville (roll number 14185)
- Location:
- Knockaville, Co. Westmeath
- Teacher: C. de Búrca
Archival Reference
The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0730, Page 315
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- Flax was grown in this district in former times. The flax, tied in bundles, used to be steeped in the canal and then laid out on the edge of the canal to bleach. When it was bleached it used to be brought to [be-crossed out] the mill to be "scutched". The mill was situated in Mullingar where the present "Dogtrack" is. Then the flax used to be stretched and woven into linen. The mill was supposed to be "cursed" by Saint Malachy because the man that owned the mill would not scutch his flax. He said he had not time and Saint Malachy "cursed" it and the wheel of the mill went backwards. Then the man went and apologised to Saint Malachy and the mill became right again. When the linen used to be woven it was again spread on the grass to bleach because it used to be yellow. When it was bleached it was sent to be manufactured into shirts and other linen articles. There was a shirt factory in Mullingar long ago. There were fifty people employed.(continues on next page)
