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School: Dysert (roll number 8640)

Location:
Dysart, Co. Westmeath
Teacher:
C. Nic Eochagáin
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The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0737, Page 440

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The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0737, Page 440

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  3. XML “Candle-Making”

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  1. Candle-Making

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    Long ago candles were made in all the houses by the people themselves. There were two sorts of candles, rush candles and tallow candles.
    The rushes were cut and brought home in bundles. Then the skin was peeled off them. After that the white centres of the rushes were dipped in melted tallows. Then they were left to dry and then they were dipped again. They could not make them very thick.
    If they left the rush too long in the melted tallow, when they were dipping it, it would melt the tallow that was on the rush already.
    To prevent this they got a big iron pot with a wheel on top made. The rush was tied on to the wheel. Then the wheel was put down into the pot of melted tallow. It was turned. Then the wheel was taken out and the rush
    (continues on next page)
    Transcribed by a member of our volunteer transcription project.
    History Edit
    Topics
    1. activities
      1. economic activities
        1. trades and crafts (~4,680)
          1. candle-making (~728)
    Language
    English
    Collector
    John Looram
    Gender
    Male
    Address
    Rathnamuddagh, Co. Westmeath
    Informant
    Hugh Looram
    Relation
    Parent
    Gender
    Male
    Age
    c. 50
    Address
    Rathnamuddagh, Co. Westmeath