School: Castleterra
- Location:
- Castleterra, Co. Cavan
- Teacher: Ss. Ó Ciosóig
Archival Reference
The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0973, Page 031
Image and data © National Folklore Collection, UCD.
See copyright details.
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- XML School: Castleterra
- XML Page 031
- XML “Bird-Lore”
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On this page
- Every bird has a different name.
The birds mostly seen are the robin blackbird swallow sparrow wagtail pigeon crow and magpie. The crow and magpie build their nests in trees. The blackbird and robin build their nests in hedges. The pigeon builds it in an ivy bush. The sparrow and swallow builds it in houses and the wagtail builds her nest in ditches. The swallow goes away to Africa in October and comes back in the spring. The swallow is a good weather prophet if she flies high it is the sign of good weather and if she flies low it is the sign of rain. The cuckoo away in July and comes back in April. She builds no nest but lays her eggs in the larks nest. The lark hatches and feeds them. The cuckoo becomes a fine bird soon and she puts out the larks.
The birds know what each other say. The corncrake says eight and eightpence. The pigeon says "eat more poor creatures".
- Collector
- Maureen O' Reilly
- Gender
- Female
- Address
- Drumnanarragh, Co. Cavan
- Informant
- Mrs O' Reilly
- Gender
- Female
- Address
- Drumnanarragh, Co. Cavan
