School: Ballydurrow
- Location:
- Ballaghdorragh, Co. Cavan
- Teacher: S. Ó Hadarnáin
Archival Reference
The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0998, Page 342
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- There was usually great fun at the match-making. The suitor went to the bride's house with a bottle of whiskey. The host sat at the head of the table. On his right-hand the suitor's spokesman and company sat and in his left-hand the bride's spokesman and his company. It was considered unlucky to have any woman at the match-making. The suitor's spokesman opened the bottle of whiskey and supplied drinks all round Then he told his errand and asked for the girl and her dowry. The bargain then commenced and when it was settled the suitor's spokesman began to praise the suitor about his farm of land, riches, cattle and how well entitled he was to the best girl in the parish. The bride's spokesman then praised the would be-bride, how industrious she was: how she could sew, knit spin and bake.
There is a story told of a man named Seamas Clocán who lived in Ballydurrow about 100 years ago. At the match-making he wanted a large dowry which the bride's father could not afford. The latter was a proud man who did not want to disclose his lack of riches, so he pretended he could not part his daughter for another few years. Clocán was a witty man and he replied that if he got the money, he would give time for the wife. At a match-making when all matters were settled(continues on next page)
- Collector
- Líam Hetherton
- Gender
- Male
- Informant
- Pat Brady
- Gender
- Male
- Address
- Ballaghdorragh, Co. Cavan
