School: Cnoc na Groighe (B.), Ráth Mhór

On this page

1. Old Customs (continued)

   

   Share Share Post

   (continued from previous page)

   hard-headed business man and went about that business with the feeling that “if the present people do not like my offer there are several others who will”. When he had carried matters to a certain point and when the countryside knew that the match was going on the girl’s father often tightened the screw and succeeded in having his offer of a few night’s previous reduced by £5 or £10. At the solicitor’s office the legal document was signed and both parties paid their share of the cost. The signing of this agreement was tantamount to the marriage, but the young man and his prospective bride have not yet met. They probably know each other – he saw her at mass or at some pattern and she him but that was all. They must be brought together. A party is invited to the girl’s house. The man brings a goodly number of his near relatives – male and female – and the girl invites her relatives. This party was and is known as “eating the gander”. At the girl’s house we may find all the old and young of the townland. The boy does not bring the old with him and only his own relatives from among the young. The idea is that the girl is bidding farewell to her old neighbours and as all cannot be

   (continues on next page)

   

   Transcribed by a member of our volunteer transcription project.

   History Edit

   Languages

   Irish

   English

   Collector

   Díarmuid Ó Múimhneacháin

   Gender

   Male

   Occupation

   Príomhoide