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School: Ballinamona

Location:
Ballynamona, Co. Cavan
Teacher:
Michael Mc Keon
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The Schools’ Collection, Volume 1007, Page 027

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The Schools’ Collection, Volume 1007, Page 027

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  1. At A Wake In This Part of The Country Long Ago

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    Long ago there was some curious customs at wakes and funerals in this part of the country. In old times there was straw used instead of a mattress in a bed, when a person died the straw was taken out and burned in front of the house. This was to give the signal that a person was dead in the house. The neighbourhood people would gather and there would be drinking, singing and telling stories and mobbing and telling riddles. One of the riddles they used to have was
    As I sat on my hunkers,
    I looked through my glasses,
    And I saw the dead burying the live.
    Answer: Raking the fire.
    Transcribed by a member of our volunteer transcription project.
    History Edit
    Topics
    1. activities
      1. social activities (~7)
        1. rites of passage (~573)
          1. death (~1,076)
    Language
    English
    Collector
    John Townley
    Gender
    Male