School: Bán-Tír (B.) (roll number 2803)

On this page

1. Care of the Feet

   

   Share Share Post

   My grandfather Denis Cronin, Gurrane Banteer, told me, that he was fifteen years of age, before he wore the first pair of boots. He told me also that he earned the price of that pair. Mrs OConnor told me, that one of her brothers never wore boots the whole year round, nor did he ever see a boot. People used to take cow skins to a mud house between Rathcoole and Millstreet. Here they were allowed to harden, and some kind of leather produced. Boots made here were sold at five shillings per pair. They were comfortable for people who had tender feet. Mrs O'Connor's grandfather wore them, but he went bare-footed just as often. There are no boots like these nowadays. Some people in Fortgrady, Banteer, wear clogs with wooden soles, at the present day. They are usually purchased at Mallow, and are cheap to buy. Sheep skins used to be taken to Rathcoole also, but the leather made from it was not as good as that from the cow hide. The owner of this tanning-house used to walk to Cork once a fortnight, for certain material to carry on his work. He used to collect skins around the locality. For a cow's hide, a pair of boots would be given, and perhaps some money.

   

   Transcribed by a member of our volunteer transcription project.

   History Edit

   Topics

   1. objects
      1. clothing and accessories (~2,403)
         1. shoes (~1,841)

   Language

   English

   Collector

   David Deady

   Gender

   Male

   Address

   Loughlea, Co. Cork

   Informant

   Mrs O Connor

   Gender

   Female

   Age

   70

   Address

   Knockbrack, Co. Cork