School: Tiercahan
- Location:
- Tircahan, Co. Cavan
- Teacher: P. Ó Riain
Archival Reference
The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0968, Page 384
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- (continued from previous page)the people go to bed.On Christmas Eve the door is left unbolted too, and the fire unraked, and the hearth swept clean. It said that the Virgin Mary and the Infant Jesus visit every holy home that night. Before people go to bed a candle is lighted, the rosary is said, the candle is placed in the window, and left there till people get up early next morn to go to early mass. A candle is then placed in every window and in every pain, if the candles are to spare. The whole country is lighted up on Christmas morning, at it is lovely to see thousands lights around, as people carrying lanterns or candles in bottles plough their way through rough passes in the mountain to be in time for early masses which start always at seven oclock in the little village church of Swanlinbar. All the houses - except the two protestants - are lit up with candles in every pain of glass in the village too.Dances in country houses are very common. These dances start about 1 oclock and last till day light around the Christmas times. Poteen, alas, is very common. It is made in large quantities for these special occasions and it is very injurious to the young boys of the district. The women or girls never taste it. There would often be three fiddles, a couple of fluters, and a melodeon player playing at a dance. These people always give their services free. The girls are invited; the boys are not; both get supper.(continues on next page)
