School: Kildavin, Ferns

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1. Local Marriage Customs (continued)

   

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   There are few match-makings in the district at present, but long ago it was the custom. When a boy needed a wife his relations would be on the look-out for a suitable girl for him. Sometimes it would be a near neighbour that they would know from the time they were children, and other times it would chance to be a girl living far away, who might have a dowry. When the day fixed for the marriage would arrive, all the guests of both parties would arrive at the girl's home where they would feast and dance and sing until one or two o'clock. Then they would go to the church on a side-car to be wed. Some would be on horse-back. In some cases they used go to the church in a dung-cart. When the ceremony would be over they would return to the bride's home. When going home they would go the longest road and the people would be out on the road with flags in their hands and they would be cheering them. It was the custom at a great deal of weddings for the men on horse-back to race from the church home, and the winner would be given two ribbons, one white and the other blue by the bride. He would wear

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   Transcribed by a member of our volunteer transcription project.

   History Edit

   Topics

   1. activities
      1. social activities (~7)
         1. rites of passage (~573)
            1. marriage (~4,283)

   Language

   English

   Collector

   Maggie Murphy

   Gender

   Female

   Address

   Drumderry, Co. Wexford

   Informant

   Mrs Kehoe

   Gender

   Female

   Age

   45

   Occupation

   Farmer's wife

   Address

   Drumderry, Co. Wexford