School: Loch Coiteáin (roll number 10049)
- Location:
- Dromickbane, Co. Kerry
- Teacher: Eibhlín, Bean Uí Shúilleabháin
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- XML “Drags Forty Years Ago”
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- After a time, when horses, as a mode of conveyance, were discontinued, the common carts came into use, and they conveyed the people to the weddings. Later on, the side-car was adopted. A string of these in a wedding was commonly called a drag. People of good standing in the country always aimed at having a large drag. A body of horsemen always preceded the drag. When the party was returning from the church, bonfires were lit on the road-side and in prominent places before them. It was a general custom too, to tie ropes from side to side of the road before them, This was an accepted fact, for they were presented with a bottle of whiskey before the ropes were cut.
There used to be great rivalry among the drivers, trying to take precedence of each other, and they often came to grief in their efforts to do so. There was hardly ever a drag in which a horse did not shy and take head. The women used to be afraid of their lives and not without cause.
After the great war, when food stuffs and beverages soared in price, weddings decreased,(continues on next page)