School: Talbhain (Irish Wastelands Society) (roll number 4013)

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1. Old Crafts (continued)

   

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   The wool for making the frieze overcoats was dyed in the following manner
   Dyeing: - The black mud from the bottom of bogholes which had iron coloured, black, muddy water on top was collected and put into huge pots with chips of alder and oak, logwood and the white wool with sufficient water to cover the wool.
   The pots were covered and placed resting on stones over big fires in the open air in a sheltered lace and kept constantly stirred and boiling for 2 or 3 days until the wool was properly coloured. This work was usually done in the month of June when the nights were short and men stayed up all night to keep the pots boiling. When properly dyed the wool was put into cleaves, washed at the river to remove all chips and mud, dried and teased and sent to the mill to be spun into thread. For lighter articles such as bauneens and women's underwear the spinning was done by the women at home.
   Spinning: - There was a woollen wheel in every house and every girl when she came to the age of 21 years was supposed to be able to spin an make her own flannel blankets and quilt to bring to her husband when getting married.

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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

   Informant

   Mrs Kate Rafferty

   Gender

   Female

   Age

   50

   Address

   Marblehill, Co. Galway