Issue 2:

Irish Customs: In early times Ireland was known as “The Island of Saints and Scholars” It could also be called “The Land of Myth and Magic” Customs have abounded here since Celtic Times, and over the years Religious Customs have also become part of our heritage. Today many of our old customs are no longer practised. Others will always be part of our tradition. We hope that the customs and legends set down on the following pages will give you a taste of Ireland past and present. Compiled by Yeats Class.

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It is said that St. Patrick got rid of snakes from Ireland. He rang his bell at the edge of a cliff and then he threw it over. The snakes followed the sound of the bell

to the edge and fell to their deaths. The bell was each time returned to the Saint by Angelic Hands. Some Pilgrims making the ascent of Croagh Patrick have heard the sound of a hand bell rung from the top. They found the sound encouraging, and it helped them to complete their climb to the summit. There was no one with a bell at the top.

The Banshee:

The Banshee is an Irish word Ban Si, and it means Fairy Woman. The Banshee is supposed to be heard crying before a death. It is claimed that she cries only for members of old Irish Families with a Mac or ‘O before the name. There are many stories told about the Banshee. In Shane Castle, home of the O’Neills, there was a room that was said to belong to the Banshee. If she was seen pacing up and down the room, wringing her hands, and crying a death followed in the family. She was described as being very beautiful, with long golden hair and blue eyes. By Mary Bergin

Some Irish Superstitions: Dreams about horses were lucky but dreams about priests and weddings were unlucky. Fairies had their greatest power in November. Three boats were lashed together when leaving a harbour, because it was unlucky to be the third boat out. Boxty, potato bread was a favourite Christening meal. A candle knocked over on Halloween was a bad omen. On Halloween Night if a girl sat before a mirror eating an apple, she would see her future husband in the mirror at midnight.

The Salmon of Knowledge. By Yasmin, Ibrahim, Sarah and Kieran - Class 2:

A group of Warriors called The Fianna lived in Ireland long ago. Their Leader was Fionn Mac Cumhail. When Fionn was a young boy he went to visit Finegas, a wise old poet who lived near the river Boyne. A famous big Silver Salmon lived in the river Boyne. It was called The Salmon of Knowledge. It was said that the first person to taste the fish would gain great knowledge and

be able to see into the future. Many people tried to catch the Salmon but failed. Finegas also wanted to catch the Salmon. He wanted to be the first person to taste the Salmon and to have its great powers. At last one day Finegas caught the Salmon. He made a fire and he asked Fionn to mind the fire while he went to collect firewood. He warned Fionn not to taste the fish. Fionn watched the fish cooking; he saw a blister rising on the Salmon. Without thinking he burst the blister and his finger was burned. Then he put his finger in his mouth to ease the pain and tasted the fish. When Finegas came back Fionn told him what happened. He was very sad as he now knew that Fionn had received the Salmons great powers From then on whenever Fionn had a problem. He simply put His finger into his mouth

and immediately he was filled with great knowledge and wisdom.

An Irish Recipe:

Soda bread is best, if eaten on the day of baking. It should be left to cool and set for several hours. This makes the bread easy to slice. It is delicious with good butter, farmhouse cheese, and some sticks of crisp celery, and it is very tasty eaten with a bowl of homemade soup. We made soda bread in Home Economics class.

450 g wholemeal flour. 175 g plain flour. 7.5ml bicarbonate of soda. 1 tsp. Salt. 450 ml buttermilk.

Method 1. Preheat oven to 200C/gas 6. 2. Grease a baking tin.

3. Combine the dry ingredients in a mixing bowl.

4. Stir in enough buttermilk to make fairly soft dough.

5. Turn on to a work surface dusted with flour and knead lightly until smooth. 6. Form the dough into a circle 4cm, and 1.5cm thick.

7. Lie on the baking tin, and make a deep cross on the top with a floured knife. 8. Bake for about 45mins. Or until the bread is browned and sounds hollow when tapped on the base. 9. Cool on a wire rack. If a soft crust is preferred wrap the loaf in a clean dishtowel while cooling. We served the bread with smoked Irish Salmon

Mary prepared the salmon.

The Laden Table. After the evening meal on Christmas Eve the table was again set. On it were placed a loaf of bread filled with caraway seeds and raisins, a pitcher of milk and a large lit candle. The door to the house was left unlatched so that Mary and Joseph or any wandering traveller could avail of the welcome. The Wren Boy Procession.

During Penal Times in Ireland, There was once a plot in a village against the local soldiers. The sleeping soldiers were surrounded and about to be ambushed when a group of wrens pecked on their drums and awakened them. The plot failed and the wren became known as the devil’s bird.

On St. Stephens Day a procession takes place, where a pole with a holly bush is carried from house to house. Families dress up in old clothes and blacken their faces. In olden times a wren would be killed and placed on top of the pole. This tradition has to a large degree disappeared. The tradition of visiting from house to house on St. Stephens Day has survived, and is very much part of Christmas.

Our Traditional Games

In Kavanagh Class we discussed our national games, which are Hurling and Gaelic Football. These games are part of our heritage. The G.A.A. or Gaelic Athletic Association organises matches and administers the games countrywide. The GAA was founded on 1st November 1884 in Thurles Co. Tipperary. Its aim to revive Irish Traditional games. The organisation is still a strong force today. Each year the G.A.A. sponsors hurling and football matches based on the knock out system. All Ireland finals are played in Croke park Dublin in September. The McCarthy cup goes to the winning team in hurling and the Sam Maguire cup is for football.

Hurling. Hurling is played with a small ball and a stick. It is Europe’s oldest game. It is part of Irish folklore. The stick or “Hurley” “Caman” is curved outwards at the end, to provide the striking surface. The ball or “Sliothar” is “similar” in size to a hockey ball but has raised ridges. A game is played over two halves of 30 minutes (at club level) or 35 minutes (at inter-county level). ______________________________ A Modern Irish Legend: The success of the Munster Rugby team is a modern Irish Legend.

of 2006 and 2008