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School: Beglieve

Location:
Beglieve, Co. Cavan
Teacher:
Brigid Duffy
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The Schools’ Collection, Volume 1016, Page 089

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The Schools’ Collection, Volume 1016, Page 089

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  3. XML “May Eve Customs”

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  1. May Eve Customs

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    Now-a-days many people clean their wells, and make May Alters.
    But long ago the people had a lot of customs. They used to split the cow's tails, and make a sally cross, and tie it to the cow's tail with a red ribbon, so that the cows would never be overlooked.
    Many people, too, did not clean out the byre on May eve so that the witches could not take the milk from the cows.
    When people used to be going to the May fair with cattle, sheep or any other animals, they used to tie a red ribbon
    (continues on next page)
    Transcribed by a member of our volunteer transcription project.
    History Edit
    Topics
    1. events
      1. events (by time of year) (~11,476)
        1. May (~639)
    Language
    English
    Informant
    Matthew Mc Cabe
    Gender
    Male
    Address
    Skeagh, Co. Cavan