School: Kiffa
- Location:
- Kiffagh, Co. Cavan
- Teacher: Helen Dinneen
Archival Reference
The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0993, Page 050
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- XML School: Kiffa
- XML Page 050
- XML “Local Marriage Customs”
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- In the country and in the towns people believe in doing certain to show the people that they wish them luck.
The throw an old shoe after the wedding car, and they believe that that is a sign of luck.
The night that the bride and groom come home there is a great feast in the bride's house, and there is drink, and all sorts of merriment, and the "ban-beggars", or "straw-men" as they are called go out.
These men are neighbours either of the bride or groom, and they tie straw-ropes round their legs, and make suits of straw for themselves, and they put on false faces so that the neighbours would not know who they were.
These men usually have a captain, and they go into the bride's house, and have to get dancing with the bride, and nearly always when they are going they have to get money to buy drink.
The people invite visitors, and there is dancing and enjoyment the whole night through. They say that up till midday belongs to the bride and after that to the groom. If it rains before midday the bride will be crying or have sorrow during her married.(continues on next page)
- Collector
- W. Lowry
- Gender
- Male
- Address
- Graddum, Co. Cavan
- Informant
- Mr H. Smyth
- Gender
- Male
- Address
- Graddum, Co. Cavan
