School: Ballyhaise
- Location:
- Ballyhaise, Co. Cavan
- Teacher: Thos. Plunkett
Archival Reference
The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0973, Page 373
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- XML “Local Marriage Customs”
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- There are so few marriages in the townland or parish that it would be hard to say when marriages take place most frequently. However before Lent and Advent there are some times two or three.
The month of May is thought to be unlucky for marriage and the 13th day of the month is also said to be unlucky. To have thirteen guests at a wedding is also said to be unlucky. Not many matches are made now-a-days but about twenty years ago there were. People in the townland do not remember marriages having taken place in the house. Money is given to the bride as a dowry and in some places land and stock.
After the wedding there was a horse race from the chapel to the bride's house and back again. The horse to win the race would draw the-side-car carrying the bride and groom. There is an rhyme connected with the marriage day which says:-
"Monday for health,
"Tuesday for wealth,
Wednesday the best day of all,
Thursday for losses
Friday for crosses,
But Saturday no day at all."
On the night of the wedding or if the couple go away on the honey moon, a few days after straw men gather to the house of the groom. They are dressed in straw and it was the custom to go on horse back. Straw men usually rode on(continues on next page)
- Collector
- Patrick Flood
- Gender
- Male
- Age
- 14
- Informant
- Patrick Flood
- Gender
- Male
- Age
- 65
- Address
- Ballyhaise, Co. Cavan
