School: Baile Uí Mheirigín, Merginstown

On this page

1. Local Fairs (continued)

   

   Share Share Post

   (continued from previous page)

   When the beast is sold a halter is bought and given to the purchaser because it is said to be lucky. In some fairs people go round selling these halters.
   When the purchaser pays the man who has sold the beast the seller always gives him back something for luck. The luck money given in the local fairs is generally about five or six shillings to every sixteen or seventeen pounds. When the seller thinks he has got a good price for his beast he gives good luck money but when he gets a bad price he does not give as much.
   The making of the bargain is the most difficult job in the fair. The man who is selling the animal always asks about a pound or two more than what he thinks the beast is really worth. The man who is about to buy the animal offers a small price at first but gradually he keeps increasing the bid. In the end the price asked by the seller of the beast might be only about fifteen shillings or a pound more than what the other is offering. Then a neighbour may come on the scene and he would ask them to divide the difference and in the end

   (continues on next page)

   

   Transcribed by a member of our volunteer transcription project.

   History Edit

   Topics

   1. activities
      1. economic activities
         1. trade
            1. buying and selling (~3,622)

   Language

   English

   Collector

   Joseph Perkins

   Gender

   Male

   Address

   Merginstown, Co. Wicklow

   Informant

   Mr Joseph Perkins

   Gender

   Male

   Age

   74

   Address

   Mullycagh Lower, Co. Wicklow