School: Clochar na Toirbhirte, Cill Áirne
- Location:
- Killarney, Co. Kerry
- Teachers: An tSr. M. Déaglán An tSr. Marie Thérèse
Archival Reference
The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0456, Page 284
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- XML School: Clochar na Toirbhirte, Cill Áirne
- XML Page 284
- XML “Seán Clárach Mac Domhnaill”
- XML “Long Ago May Day Customs”
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On this page
- (continued from previous page)n-amhrán de’n tsórd chéadna do cheap filí eile.
(Féach Lch. 51)
- Long ago it was the custom on May morning, at sunrise to bleed the cattle and every person should taste the blood mixed with milk. Men and women were also bled and their blood was sprinkled on the ground. This custom died out but the children are still lifted through the fire when it has burned low, and the cattle are driven through the burning embers as in ancient times, both children and cattle were past through the fire to "moloch" and the young men still leap through the flames after the dance round the burning bush is over and they carry home a lighted branch of the sacred tree to give good luck to the family during the coming year.The start of the May bush(continues on next page)
- Informant
- Mrs Lynch
- Gender
- Female
- Age
- 82
- Occupation
- Farmer's wife
- Address
- Knockeenduff, Co. Kerry
