School: Clochar na Trócaire, Béal Átha 'n Fheadha (roll number 5215)
- Location:
- Ballina, Co. Mayo
- Teacher: John McGee
Archival Reference
The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0146, Page 289
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“As there were no shops Irish people made their own clothes.”
As there were no shops, Irish people made their own cloths. The heavy tweeds were made of sheep's wool, the lighter cloths were made from flax. The wool was cut off the sheep it was first cleaned with grease, and then carded. The carders were two pieces of flat wood, strong wire bristles were attached to one side of the wood. The wool was teased out on the bristles and formed into light rolls about a foot long. The rolls were then spun into thread.
The spinning wheel was a large wooden frame, with a big wooden wheel on one side, and a spindle on the other. The rolls were attached to the spindle and when the wheel was set in motion they were spun into thread, the thread was taken to the weaver who made it into tweed.
- Informant
- Mrs Jordan
- Gender
- Female
- Age
- 33
- Address
- Ballina, Co. Mayo