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School: Mount Plunkett (roll number 8096)

Location:
Mountplunkett, Co. Roscommon
Teacher:
Bríd Ní Bheirn
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The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0265, Page 167

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The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0265, Page 167

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  3. XML “The Potato Crop”

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  1. The Potato Crop (continued)

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    They pick them in buckets and put the big ones into one basket and the small ones into another. When the baskets are full the men carry them and put them into pits.
    The local names given to the various kinds of potatoes are, Kerrspink, Aran banners, Epicure, Champions, British Queens and Irish Queens, American Roses. The small potatoes are called "poteens". Kerrspink and Epicures grow best in this district. Potatoes were used instead of starch in olden days.
    This is the type of spade used in this district
    [below is a drawing of a spade that looks like a sword or a letter opener]
    Champion grows best in Good land. "Black Bull" in boggy land. They called potatoes "bealachs" long ago (also green tops.) Big potatoes were called "lumbers" Some people calle dpotatoes "the Murphys" and "the "broganawns."
    Wooden ploughs were made by Martin Curly, the Ball Alley. Lecarrow Co. Roscommon and Pat Martin Galey. Dan Quigly Gailey. Knockcroghery, Co Roscommon. Bad types were called "scrahawns" and "leadogues" The potatoes were also known as "corn-bawshacks" they used to say - the blight is on the "Corn bawshacks". Other names of varieties grown are "Peebro", "Garden Pillars" "Kildare" "Skery Blue" "Aran Chief" "Up-to-Date" "Houndeen" "Magreem Boneem."
    Transcribed by a member of our volunteer transcription project.
    History Edit
    Topics
    1. activities
      1. economic activities
        1. agriculture (~2,659)
          1. potatoes (~2,701)
    Language
    English
    Informant
    Malacky Kelly
    Gender
    Male
    Age
    75
    Occupation
    Smith
    Address
    Killeenrevagh, Co. Roscommon
    Informant
    Patrick Kelly
    Gender
    Male
    Age
    65
    Occupation
    Farmer
    Address
    Killeenrevagh, Co. Roscommon