School: Caime (roll number 11380)
- Location:
- Caim, Co. Wexford
- Teacher: Liam Ó Reagáin
Archival Reference
The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0893, Page 013
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Rushlights
An old woman known as the rush woman went along selling thick rushes. She usually got oaten meal etc. instead of money. These were cut in lengths and peeled one thin strip being left. The rushes were then dipped in grease. The grease was melted in a "grisset" an oblong shaped recepticle intended for that purpose. There was a special candle stick for these rush lights much like an ordinary candle stick but with a thing like a pincers to hold the candle.
These rush candles are seful where an ordinary candle would melt and turn over such as in a kiln.Snobogues. were rags torn into strips and dipped in grease in a "grisset".My grandmother remembers seeing wool carded in a mill near Gorey. When carded her father took it home and she spun it on a woollen wheel.There was flax grown at her home and spun on a flax wheel. She doesnt ever remember seeing the flax spun at home but an old woman near used to do it for them. We have these sheets at home still.Eleanor O'Connor. Kiltrea. Age 12 yrs
- Collector
- Eleanor O' Connor
- Gender
- Female
- Age
- 12
- Address
- Kiltrea, Co. Wexford
