School: Bearna na Gaoithe, Carraig na Siúire
- Location:
- Windgap or Ardmore, Co. Waterford
- Teacher: Cáit Pléimeann
Archival Reference
The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0655, Page 094
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- Making hay while the sun shinesLong ago much labour was attached to the making of hay. Hands were blistered, back and shoulders ached with pain and weariness and there was no attraction in the old style.
On the morning of the mowing of the hay everyone in the farmhouse was up early and very busy preparing for the day. There was no such thing as a mowing machine at that time but old-fashioned scythes and plenty of labour.
As all success depended on the weather the first thing the first thing the farmer did was to look heavenwards and try to form an opinion of what the weather would be for the day.
He had no wireless at that time to provide him with the weather forecast.
After breakfast the man armed themselves with scythes and rakes and repaired to the hay-field. Then the work began, Round and round the field they went with a steady swing of the scythe , the grass plot grew less and less every time.(continues on next page)
