Denis Cavanagh, Age 79
Ballyhoran, Mountrath,Leix
Reared in Ballyhoran; spent about 37 yrs in Cork.
1; Planting the Quicken or Mountain Ash. Up to very lately the people around this locality planted quicken in their gardens and manure heaps. Just a few families continue this custom which is believed to bring in a plentiful harvest.
2; A quicken branch was planted out in front of the door and decorated with bunches of wild flowers.
3; Blessed water is sprinkled on all the crops and animals on May Eve.
4; When my informer was a young man,he had on leaving to remove the red coal from pipe which he got on entering a neighbour's house to kindle his pipe.(He would take all the luck if he took the fire)
5; No one would be given milk on May Eve.It would be considered a crime to ask it.
6; People if they could at all would churn on May Eve.Susan Boland