School: Lattoon

Location:
Lattoon, Co. Cavan
Teacher:
P. Ó Hiorraí
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The Schools’ Collection, Volume 1001, Page 382

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The Schools’ Collection, Volume 1001, Page 382

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  1. XML School: Lattoon
  2. XML Page 382
  3. XML “Bonfires”

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  1. Bonfires were very common until 20 years ago and they are now completely wiped out. The chief cause of the decay of bonfires is due in part to lack of firewood and another cause is the decrease of the population of youngsters. In the olden times there was a bonfire on every hill but in parts of the locality there was a special bonfire and young men and some old people too walked a considerable distance to one of those given out bonfires. There would be fiddlers and all kinds of musicians, tambouring and fires. Young girls were there by the score and if the night was good and dry they sang and danced until the small hours of the morning and this custom was continued from the time of St. Patrick. When he came to convert the Irish people they had their great bonfires especially the great fire they had to the memory of Baal, their chief god. Young men frequented these bonfires which were (was) held on the 1st of May. They had various games and athletic fetes and other games, mirth and carousing and the Pagan youth watched and
    (continues on next page)
    Transcribed by a member of our volunteer transcription project.
    Topics
    1. events
      1. events (by time of year) (~11,476)
        1. Feast of St John (~208)
    Language
    English
    Collector
    Brigid Coyle
    Gender
    Female
    Address
    Coragh, Co. Cavan
    Informant
    Mr P. Mc Gennis
    Gender
    Male
    Address
    Coragh, Co. Cavan