School: Strang's Mills, Kilmacow

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1. Marriages (continued)

   

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   much had to be paid & if low so much else, generally a £100 generally in the difference of the dowry. If a girl were bringing out a dowry her people came & walked the land generally her father did this work. If the land were good a good dowry was given if poor the dowry was cut. The person walking the land noted if thistles or other plants that were supposed to denote good land were growing there or not. They were married in the house and also in the church. They went on horseback & the wife went home with the husband on horseback pillion riding behind him. The others gave them a good start & then went after them as quickly as possible The dinner consisted of pig's head & cabbage, beer & stout & whiskey Boys came there dressed known as "Straw Boys" & were intertained. They were dressed in all kinds of old clothes to disguise & wore "Eye-fiddles" so that no one would recognise them. Beggars came there also & money was distributed among them. This custom of the beggars still continues at some weddings

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   Transcribed by a member of our volunteer transcription project.

   History Edit

   Topics

   1. activities
      1. social activities (~7)
         1. rites of passage (~573)
            1. marriage (~4,283)

   Language

   English

   Informant

   Thomas Gaull

   Gender

   Male

   Age

   66

   Address

   Kilmacow, Co. Kilkenny