School: Rathcoyle, Kiltegan
- Location:
- Rathcoyle Lower, Co. Wicklow
- Teacher: Aodh Ó Broin
Archival Reference
The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0920, Page 128
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- (continued from previous page)blood instead of milk for a period of three days.
__________________________________________________________________1 James Byrne
2 Ballymaconey
3 60
The principal birds that are best known in our district are; the robin, sparrow, wren, blackbird, swallow, snipe yellow hammer, lark, magpie, linnet, crane, and crow.
The robin is a small bird with a red-breast. She generally builds her nest in the side of a ditch and lays from four to five eggs. The robin hatches for four weeks and then the young ones are seen jumping from bush to bush. When the robin comes to the door step especially during the winter it is a sign of snow and rain.
When the swallow flys high it is a sign of fine weather and when she flys low it is a sign of wet weather.
When the crows are flying high it is a sign of fine weather while on the other hand when they are flying low it is a sign of a storm.
It is said if anyone interferes with a swallows nest that the cows owned by his people will give blood instead of milk for a period of three days.
When the crane flies up the river it is a sign of fine weather and when it flies down the river it is a sign of wet weather. When the starlings are seen in flocks coming from the mountains it is a sign of a storm. When the seagulls are seen flying in from the sea it is a sign of a storm.
- Informant
- John Shiel
- Gender
- Male
- Age
- 60
- Address
- Carrignamweel, Co. Wicklow
