The people would put it into the fire it would light up They (put) did not want much light because they went to bed very early. They made the rush lights in the home They made them from rushes and greese. They dipped the rushes into the greese and lit them. On Christmas night they had about twelve Rush lights lighting.Later in years candles were used. They are used at present. In olden times the people had a bed in a hole in the wall. The oldest person used to sleep in it. There was a door outside it. When the door was closed you would never know there was a bed in it at all. They were called press-beds. The beds were made of wood but later in years they were made of iron. In the old houses there were lofts over the kitchens. I know of a house and there is a room a kitchen and a bed in the wall. There is a galvanised roof on it. There is a box on the top of the chimney. There is a half-door in it, Thear is an old woman living in it. This was told to my by -: Mrs Stephens, Rathduff, Balla, Co Mayo.Karen McQuaid