School: Stranorlar
- Location:
- Srath an Urláir, Co. Dhún na nGall
- Teacher: Bean Mhic Giolla Chomhghaill
Archival Reference
The Schools’ Collection, Volume 1096, Page 46
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Story (continued)
“The methods employed by our forefathers to make the oat crop ready for use as food ...”
(continued from previous page)pin points in the dark. If you listen carefully you will hear the faint sound of the flail coming from every light. We enter a barn when work is proceeding. On the threshing board is a new sheaves of corn. Every stroke of the flail plied by strong arms makes many grains hop. A candle made from tallow with a peeled rich which affords the light. A breezy day was usually selected for cleaning the corn. The wind carried off the chaff and the heavy grins were left on the cleaning cloth.
Lastly came the time for drying and grinding the oats. Large basins were filled with grain and placed over a peat fire. The heat loosened the outer shell of the seed and made it brittle. This done the corn was ready for grinding. A large stone called a "mill stone" was used for this purpose and today these round stones with a hole in the centre remind us of the time our forefathers toiled before science and machinery made a new world.
- Collector
- Joan Hannigan
- Gender
- Female
- Age
- 14
- Address
- An Glaidhb, Co. Dhún na nGall
- Informant
- Mr Willie J. Doherty
- Gender
- Male
- Age
- 65
- Occupation
- Farmer
- Address
- Baile na Glaice, Co. Dhún na nGall