It grows in pastures and also in crops. It spreads rapidly. Long ago the landlords used to travel the land which their tenants had and if they found three buacalláns in any farm they used to take the farm from that tenant

If the summer is going to be a fine one, it is said that the rooks will build their nests very high in the tree-tops.
There is also a belief that when the coltsfoot comes out in flower. Winter frosts are over.
Clouds, if they are the best weather guides and prophet. Small and fleecy, with irregular borders, they foretell. Large deep-toned clouds with clean-cut edges mean coming rain, and strong colours herald both wind and rain.
Indoors, in the early morning , if there is a mist on the bedroom windows, if the soap is dry, and if the bubbles rising from lumps of sugar in tea or coffee rise quickly and break against the side of the cup . The day will be fine.

The most harmful weeds growing in my father's farm are : -

Bronchitis and Asthma

The farmers are the constant enemies of the harmful weeds. Some weeds are harmful because they spread rapidly, grow strong quickly, and thus smother the seedlings which the farmers sow. Other impoverish the soil by using up all the manure set out for other plants, to strengthen themselves. Many of such weeds are not to be found in poor soil as they require nourishment which is not to be found in poor land.
I've heard my father speak of such weeds as the Praiseach Bhuidhe or Charlock, the Buachallan or Ragweed, Sponnc or Coltsfoot, the Feócadán or thistle, the Cupóg or Dock-leaf, the Cois Phréacháin or Crowsfoot, Glúineach; Clúbán; An Géasadán, Broim-fhéar, The Sheep Sorrel; Chickenweed, The Black Buttons; The Cockle Yarrow, Rib-leaf, Grounsel.
Glúineach: -
is said to be so called because of the knots on the stem resembling knees.

it dies, the child will have power to cure all diseases.

MONDAY unlucky day for starting career, going to school & college etc
SUNDAY unlucky day for starting a cure. Considered unlucky for house changing. Unlucky to change from one house, & after-wards return again. Shouldnt according to old tradition, pare your nails on Sunday.
Harmful weeds. Nettles, Dock-leaves buttter-cup burdock, colts foot ragwort (buacallán buidhe) Ox-eye daisy in meadows. Spread rapidly and impoverish the soil. Thistles sign of good land.
Cowslips (deficient in lime)
Herbs grown on rocks (white crusts) used for dying brown. Bottom of bog hole used for dying (black)
TORMENTILLA used for curing toothache
Coltsfoot (Leaves used & dried for smoking when tobacco is scarce.

The most harmful weeds growing here are - the creeping thistle, the dock, the buachalán buidhe and the nettle. They smother the growing crop and are unsightly.
The thistle and fern grow where there is a good depth of soil. Gabhal-luachair and rushes grow on wet, poor, land.
Caisearbhán-cos-dearg drawn like tea and used instead of tea is a remedy for liver complaints.
Slánlus chewed and applied to a cut will stop the bleeding. The juice found in the flowering part of the dock-leaf before it bursts its sheath will cure the sting of a nettle. The sheath can be used as a protection for sore lips.
"Three feeds of nettles in May will keep the doctor away". Pound the warts plant between two stones and rub the juice to warts to banish them. Bainne-cice-na-néan was pounded between stones at the ford of a stream in order to poison the fish. The clúrachán-prátaí were cooked and eaten as a great rarity.
Spúnc (Coltsfoot) was cured and smoked by the

Names The following are the commonest weeds found in this locality (1) Chickenweed (2) Reelie (3) Bramier (4)Praiseac Duide (5) Cupág or Dock (6) Curicífiadain (7) Bainnefiadain
(8) Nettles, (9) Cackles, (10) Hemlock
(11) Ragwort, (12) Saffron, (13) Garlic (14) Charlock, (15) Coltsfoot, (16) Rushes
(17) Scutch grass, (18) Dandelion
(19) Thistles, (20) Dodder,
(21) Red Rattle (22) Yellow Rattle,
(23) Buacallán (24) Gaosadán
(25) gruana (26) crubán (27) Sheep's saddle (29) Meacan Dá caba

1. Lus na gCnámh: (Comfrey) An luibh seo do bheiriú, ceirín de dhéanamh dhi, agus í chur ar chois leointa, nú ar aon chuid eile don chabhail a bheadh leointe.
2. Miont Fiadhain: (Mint) Do bheiriú agus an t-uisge a scagadg i soithigh eigin agus é ól. B'in leigheas ar thinneas goile.
3. Ruithéal Ríogh: (Herb Robert) Leighisfeadh té déanta den luibh seo bbreoidhteacht ae.
4. Biolar Trágha: Té do dhéanamh leis an gcarrán bú biolar tragha (Scurvy grass) agus é ól. Leighiseann sé dathacha.
5. Cluas Liat: (Coltsfoot) Té d'ól a bheadh déanta de'n eidhean nú cluas liath, leighiseann sé aidíd na seamhóg.
6. Bruitíneach: Aoileach na gcaorach do bheiriú i mbainne agus an deoch d'ól.
7. Losca: Ceirín de bhualtraigh do chur ar an áit loiscithe.
8. Craosgalar: (Thrush) Duine d'fhághail a béarfaí t'réis báis a athar agus anál an duine sin do shéide seacht n-uaire

5. Cluas Liath (coltsfoot) Téa d'ól a bheadh déanta den eidhean nú cluasliath, leighiseann sé Aicíd na Scamhóg

1.
Comfrey ;- Boil this herb, put splints of it to any sore part of the foot or body and it will be cured.
2.
Mint ;- Boil this herb, strain the juice and drink it. This is a cure for stomach trouble.
3.
Herb Robert ;- Tea made of this plant cures liver or heart trouble.
4.
Coltsfoot boiled and drunk is a cure for lung trouble.
5.
To get a cure for Thrush. Get a person who was born after his father's death and get him to blow his breath seven times into the mouth of the person affected with the Thrush.
6.
Triuch;- Put the person who is affected three times over and three times under a she-ass.
7.
Scurvy;- Cut the tail of a black cat and rub the blood to the sore place.
8.
Jaundice. Cut off a bit of a goat's ear and hang it by a string to the neck of the person affected.

The Cos Préacáin or Crowsfoot
is said to be so called because its leaves resemble a crows foot. Its flower is called the Buttercup.
Broim-Fhéar
is regarded by the farmers as being a very bad weed. It is a kind of a grass and its roots are like little onions.
Praiseach Bhuidhe or Charlock
is said to live in a field for a score years and after that time it dies. Its blossoms are yellow.
Black Buttons
are relished by horses.
Groundsel seeds
are favourities with linnets[?]
Dock-leaf:-
The seeds of the dock-leaf when ripe and mixed with the horse's food is a cure for broken wind.
Seamer, Wild Vetches, and wild clover grow only in good soil. Seamer is a kind of grass. Ferns grow in poor soil.
Sponnc or Coltsfoot
is so called because its leaf resembles a colt's hoof.

Blue Mallow:- For coughs and colds.
Bogbean:- for liver trouble.
Wild carrot:- Is a cure for dropsy.
Chestnut leaves:- great for convulsions.
Coltsfoot:- an effective cough remedy.
Elder leaves:- for epilepsy.
Golden rod:- for weakness of stomach.
Ground Ivy:- for skin diseases.
Horehound:- for colds and coughs.
Irish Moss:- for chest and bronchial affections.
Marsh Mallow:- for colds and bronchitis.
Meadowsweet:- for diarhoea.
Birch Bark:- for eczema.
Willow Bark:- for diarhoea.
Witch hazed Bark:- external wounds
Celery:- for rheumatism.
Nettle seed:- for chest affections.
Mistletoe:- for hysteria.
Celandine:- for jaundice.
Marigold flowers :- For fevers.
Rub a fasting spit to the wart in the morning. then stick a shellimedy to a hawthorn bush and if it will be there for three mornings the warts will be cured.
The Milk Warts is good also for curing warts.
The leaving of ferret's milk is good for whooping