On the 11th of November the Irish people keep the feast of St. Martin. They practise various customs on the 10th of November, the Eve of the feast. The following customs are practised in Boher :-
The killing of the Bird.
The people kill a cock or a duck or a goose on St. Martin's Eve. They cut the bird on the head and spill the blood at the threshold of the door and on the four corners of the kitchen floor in honour of St. Martin. Some people kill a pig in honour of St. Martin. I heard Mrs. Bray, Scragg telling a story of a family who lived in Portroe named Creamer. They promised a pig to St. Martin. On St. Martin's Eve they killed the pig. But they thought it a pity to spill the blood.