School: Ballinahowen (roll number 8646)
- Location:
- Ballynahown, Co. Westmeath
- Teacher: T. Hanly
Archival Reference
The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0745, Page 035
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- XML “Festival Customs - May Day”
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- (continued from previous page)Eve to get a bush with branches on it and tie branches of flowers on it and place it in the thatch. It is called a "May Bush". Also it is a local custom to make an altar, they get a vale and put it round the picture or statue of the Blessed Virgin. Then they put flowers and statues and pictures on the altar.
Long ago when the witches were Ireland they used to go to the pastures on May Eve, and wipe the dew of the grass on the cow's udder and say "All the milk and butter my side". A priest was passing one evening while she was at and he said "I will cry halves" and so he had plenty of milk ever after, twice as much as before. The people long ago used to tie in the cows on May Day. They fairies would be passing they said and would take them.
Long ago in certain field in Ballyduff a white cordoroy trousers(continues on next page)
- Collector
- Eibhlín Ní h-Odhráin
- Gender
- Female
- Address
- Clonaderg, Co. Offaly
- Informant
- Seósamh Ó hOdhráin
- Relation
- Parent
- Gender
- Male
- Age
- 62
- Address
- Clonaderg, Co. Offaly
