School: Star of the Sea, Glengivney (roll number 12334)

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1. Old Crafts (continued)

   

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   shape and had three legs.
   The thatching. The people thatched in olden times with briars. They took the "jags" off them and seared them. These briars are called "scolps". They thatched and sewed the houses with this and it lasted for ten years. In later years the people thatched with flax, oaten straw, barley straw, wheaten straw, and sometimes rushes. The flax was considered the best for thatching because it last the longer but in former years it was considered unlucky to thatch with flax. When people begin to thatch they take off old ropes and pull all the weeds. Then they begin to thatch. Some people went out and cut fir and took it home and dried it and called it "peeling roots". This fir was in one big block and when it was dry they pulled off small pieces until they had enough to make a rope. These were called "fir ropes" and they were very strong. Some people put "straw ropes" and others put on "fir ropes" and others "twine ropes". These straw ropes were called "sugans" and they were made in the following manner. The straw was thrashed and cleaned well before they began to make the ropes. They twisted the straw with a "trathhook" and made it into a big ball. Two then men are required to make the "sugans". One "let" the straw while the other twisted it.
   The lime making. In olden times the people burned lime in kilns. Kilns were made round and lined with

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   Transcribed by a member of our volunteer transcription project.

   History Edit

   Topics

   1. activities
      1. economic activities
         1. trades and crafts (~4,680)

   Language

   English

   Collector

   Kathleen Mc Henry

   Gender

   Female

   Address

   Glennagiveny, Co. Donegal

   Informant

   B. Mc Henry

   Relation

   Parent

   Gender

   Male

   Age

   50

   Address

   Glennagiveny, Co. Donegal

   Informant

   Dan Mc Laughlin

   Relation

   Relative (other than parent or grandparent)

   Gender

   Male

   Age

   75

   Address

   Glennagiveny, Co. Donegal