School: Baile Nua an Fhaoitigh (roll number 9040)
- Location:
- Newtownwhite, Co. Mayo
- Teacher: Éilís Ní Mharascáil
Archival Reference
The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0145, Page 65
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- XML “Marriage Customs”
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- Thursday is considered the luckiest day to get married, Saturday and Monday are very unlucky days and rarely does a marriage take place here on either of these days. It is believed here that a Shrove Tuesday marriage is unlucky. The Monday before Ash Wednesday is called "Puss Monday" because all the women who have not got married before Lent have a "puss" on them.
Matches are arranged here up to the present time, money is given as a dowry, it is understood that any fairly well off farmer must give his daughter at least £100. When a baby girl is born in any house the neighbours will be heard say "so and so [?] lost £100 last night", meaning he will have to pay out £100 dowry while if it were a boy he wouldn't have to. About 50 years ago stock and sometimes household goods and even clothes were given as part dowry, a cow was usually given with the bride.
On the wedding day a feast is held in the bride's home, there is "poteen", whiskey and a barrell of porter brought in for the party. The bridal party take a drive round the country from the church and then return for dinner in the(continues on next page)
- Collector
- Cecil Carroll
- Gender
- Male
- Address
- Ballysakeery, Co. Mayo
- Informant
- Charles Carroll
- Gender
- Male
- Age
- 44
- Address
- Ballysakeery, Co. Mayo
