School: Athlone (Mixed) (roll number 16092)
- Location:
- Athlone, Co. Westmeath
- Teacher: T. Hunter
Archival Reference
The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0748, Page 077
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- XML “Homemade Toys”
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- A great many of the toys which children made long ago are still in fashionBoys made tops from empty cotton spools ; they cut it out with a knifeThey made guns from elder tree branches ; by burning out the inside of the branch. This is still carried on.When men cut the flax the boys used to get the tow which was left over, and make guns, by putting a stone in the tow and pushing it out with a ramrod.Marbles were made from burned clay. Slings were made from a piece of leather by tying a piece of string to both ends of it.Bows and arrows were made (and are still made) by getting a briar stick and tying a piece of string to both ends of it. Arrows were made by getting a bamboo stick and by putting a feather in it, and putting a weight on the end.Snares were made from wire.Ghosts were made by scooping the inside out of a turnip and boring(continues on next page)
- Informant
- Mrs Johnson
- Gender
- Female
- Address
- Garrycastle, Co. Westmeath
- Informant
- Mr W. Taylor
- Gender
- Male
- Address
- Athlone, Co. Westmeath
