School: Leitir Mhic an Bhaird (Robertson) (roll number 15283)
- Location:
- Leitir Mhic an Bhaird, Co. Donegal
- Teacher: Nábla Nic Amhlaidhe
Archival Reference
The Schools’ Collection, Volume 1054, Page 411
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- The people in the townland of Farrigans are said to be very superstitious.They still carry out the customs of Lá Bealtaine. Each house makes a great effort to have the first smoke going up on May morning. They say that whatever house has the 1st smoke going up that May will have the best luck throughout the year.
Long ago it was the custom to have a May Pole. On May Eve a member of each house cut a pole and on the top of it was tied WILD IRIS (Sagans) Then this pole was stuck in the Manure Heap. This Pole was considered as bringing luck to the year's crop. Mrs Boyle remembers her father going out every May Eve to cut the Pole. These are the words he used to say going out to cut it."Tá mé ag dul amach i n-ainm De go bhfaghaidh mé mo chrann Bealtaine"
This is the prayer he used tosay when he was sticking it down into the Manure Heap:-(Continued)(continues on next page)
- Collector
- Nábla Nic Amhlaidhé
- Gender
- Female
- Occupation
- Múinteoir
- Informant
- Mrs Boyle
- Gender
- Female
- Address
- Roosky, Co. Donegal
