School: Clochar na Trócaire, An Caisleán Riabhach

Location:
Castlerea, Co. Roscommon
Teacher:
An tSiúr M. Stiophán
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The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0246, Page 128

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The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0246, Page 128

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  1. XML School: Clochar na Trócaire, An Caisleán Riabhach
  2. XML Page 128
  3. XML “Superstitions about Animals”

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  1. Each man believed that if a neighbour's cow went into his field and walked in his cow's tracks that she would be stealing his cow's milk and butter. It was said that if a man went into a field and picked up little bits of clay from a cow's track that he would be giving to his own cow the other cow's milk and butter.
    Every time a donkey brays it is said a tinker dies. It is thought very unlucky to beat a donkey on Sunday. Ill used donkeys are supposed to bear witness against us at God's tribunal.
    If a person finds a horse-shoe he believes that he will have good luck. It is a custom, especially when a person finds a horse-shoe, to cover it with silver paper and hang it over the door to keep the devil away.
    When a dog is seen eating grass rain is expected. If a dog barks outside the door at night it is supposed that one of the family is going to die.
    A black cat is said to be very lucky. If a strange cat comes into a house he is supposed to bring good luck and people try to keep him as long as they can. If a cat scrapes a person, three ribs taken off his back and put on the wound
    (continues on next page)
    Transcribed by a member of our volunteer transcription project.
    Language
    English
    Collector
    Nora Muldoon
    Gender
    Female
    Address
    Tober, Co. Galway
    Informant
    Mrs C. Hara
    Gender
    Female
    Address
    Tober, Co. Galway