School: Ballydurrow

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1. Marriage Customs and Stories Concerning Marriages (continued)

   

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   tea was served to all and the elder people got whiskey and stout, so that it was morning when they departed. One the morning of the marriage the bridegroom went to the bride's house and both proceeded to the church in front in a carriage. When coming home the bridegroom was met with a bottle of whiskey. The carmen then got off and ran to the house. Whoever was first got a bottle of whiskey and drank the contents. The empty bottle was given to the bride. She threw it away from her and if it got broken it was the sign of good luck. The wedding festival was held in the groom's home. Half-barrels of porter were there At night young men came dressed in straw and were given drink. In some localities they cry outside the door. We are told that in some cases drastic measures took place. If a man left a girl out to be his wife and he knowing he would not have the slightest chance of her, this man would gather an army of men and go to her house at night and bring her away by force.
   If she refused to go with her intended husband she would be carded. This means that the flesh would be torn from her body with a card for carding wool an article that was very common in the home-spinning industry in Ireland very long ago. Run-away marriages also took place. If the parents of the girl refused consent to the man she loved, the latter took the girl away to the home of his relations with her parent knowing it until

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   Transcribed by a member of our volunteer transcription project.

   History Edit

   Topics

   1. activities
      1. social activities (~7)
         1. rites of passage (~573)
            1. marriage (~4,283)

   Language

   English

   Collector

   Líam Hetherton

   Gender

   Male

   Informant

   Pat Brady

   Gender

   Male

   Address

   Ballaghdorragh, Co. Cavan