School: Banagher (B.)

Location:
Banagher, Co. Offaly
Teacher:
Séamus Ó Maoilchéire

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Banagher (B.) | The Schools’ Collection

Archival Reference

The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0816, Page 407

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Others make a cross of wet bog mould and leave it to dry. When it is dry they put it in a wooden frame and nail it up to the chimney. This is said to bring luck to the house. When there is a thunder storm it is the custom to leave a window open on each side of the house and to put the tongs into the centre of the fire. This is said to keep away the dangers of lightning. When the first is being raked at night they make the sign of the cross with the tongs over the ash pit to guard against fire. When sowing corn St. Ciaran's clay from his grave in Clonmacnoise is shaken in the field to kill the wireworm and to protect the crop. If there is any seed left over it is given to the poorest farmer in the district. In olden times the best bag of oats was always kept for the Priest of the parish. He now collects money instead of oats.

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Collector
James J. Mulhare
Gender
male
Language
English