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

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1. Old Customs (continued)

   

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   Through the night the dance and sing-song continued Old and young joined in the fun. The old men when in their cups became very loquacious and with hands clasped they gave their lungs and throats full freedom. No old man would sing without clasping somebody else’s hand and as verse after verse was gone through so also was hand after hand clasped. The grádh mo chroidhe was very evident on these occasions. While the dance and song were occupying the attentions of the guests the young man and his bride-to-be slipped quietly away to some secluded spot in the house where they discussed their future and their high hopes Dawn brought an end to the merriment. The women jostle about getting their respective husbands under control. Horses and cars must be got ready and cushions and rugs and whips are to be got and settled. After much commotion the distant visitors leave and the boys and girls of the neighbourhood must have the last dance. While this was in progress arrangements were made that the boy and his father and the girl and her father were to meet later in the day to ‘see the priest’. At 11 or 12 o’clock they

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   Transcribed by a member of our volunteer transcription project.

   History Edit

   Languages

   Irish

   English

   Collector

   Díarmuid Ó Múimhneacháin

   Gender

   Male

   Occupation

   Príomhoide