School: Coillte Mághach (roll number 12520)

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1. Festival Customs (continued)

   

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   for two or three children to disguise themselves in various ways, generally they wear a mask. One of them is equipped with either a tin flute or a mouth organ on which sometimes he is able to play a few tunes, while the rest of the group as a rule make a pretence of dancing' to the music on the door step. The money-collector then knocks and generally get a penny; at any rate, the earlier bands do. They move pretty quickly from one house to another so as to have the advantage, if possible, of gathering there first. When the money is gathered they divide it amongst themselves usually in equal shares. The money is usually spent in sweets and other christmas attractions that are plenty in the shops at this time of year. Later in the day bands of grown boys with good musicians parade the streets while one or two of their number collect from the various houses along their route. Indeed there is a never-ending procession through the streets from dawn to late night.

   On the eve of St. Brigid's Day the

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   Transcribed by a member of our volunteer transcription project.

   History Edit

   Topics

   1. agents (~1)
      1. animal-lore (~1,185)
   2. events
      1. events (by time of year) (~11,476)

   Languages

   Irish

   English

   Collector

   Máirtín Ó Cearbhaill

   Gender

   Male