School: An Mhainistir, Malla (roll number 12519)
- Location:
- Mallow, Co. Cork
- Teacher: An Bráthair Lúcás
Archival Reference
The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0369, Page 583
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- In the olden times people did not have boots, but used pieces of leather with straps (in the form of the sandal) to protect their feet from sharp stones or thorns in the roadway. The people on the farms often went without foot protection, by going about the farm with bare feet. In this way their feet became hardy and accustomed to stones, and it did not hurt them. When the Irish people were going to religious ceremonies like Mass or Confession, it was a custom not to put on their footwear until they came in sight of the Church. They did this so as not to show disrespect to the "Blessed Sacrament".
Children then took to these customs, and it was not a funny sight to see them walking in the towns or villages in their bare feet. It is believed however that the people used to shape out wooden boots or clogs for wearing. In some little villages clogs are still worn by the inhabitants for the footwear in Ballyclough (near Mallow). There are about six shoe-repairing shops in Mallow. This however has been in the families for generations.(continues on next page)
- Collector
- M. Walsh
