DOI: 10.7925/drs1.duchas_4742096
title: Doirín na nDamh

description: A collection of folklore and local history stories from Doirín na nDamh (school) (Derreenneanav, Co. Kerry), collected as part of the Schools' Folklore Scheme, 1937-1938 under the supervision of teacher Máire, Bean Uí Shúilleabháin.
description: The ancient Irish were very much given to fairy stories and many old people still believe in them. / Shea, Maureen -- Many indeed are the stories told of the time when the fairies were supposed to play an important part in the lives of our forefathers. / Shea, Sheila O -- There was once a man living in an old road who had a field of corn. / Neill, Margaret -- In our district, we hear many stories from the part of the sufferings endured by the priests and people to preserve the faith and to attend the holy sacrifice of the Mass. / Shea, Maureen O -- One night when my grandfather was living in Gortlas his father had a white horse. / Shea, Myles O' -- There were once two brothers, one of whom was very rich and the other very poor. / Egan, Elizabeth -- Long ago there was a an old woman living in a little hut in Drongawn. / Shea, Margaret -- I live in Rossmore, it is an island and there about nine houses in it and each one has a farm. / Nash, Bridie -- Dunkilla Fort / Shea, Margaret -- Over 300 years ago when Blands took over the property in South Dunkerron they were attacked on a few occasions by a band of insurgents. / Moriarty, Mary Kate -- A few miles from my house is a hill called Coom an Aifrinn. / Burns, Mary -- The parish of Sneem is rich in historic associations of every kind but I shall now deal with one aspect of the Bland regime. / Moriarty, Mary K. -- Old Customs / Nash, Bridie -- Once, I heard my grandfather say that a man was going to Kenmare one day in the time of the famine. / Nash, Bridie -- Our great grandfathers lived, poor, but honest, hardworking, industrious, religious lives. / Falvey, Mary -- The places where I live is called Direenacopple. / Egan, Lizzie -- The people long ago used to live in a different way from what we do now. / Shea, Maureen -- The hardships and troubles which our ancestors endured to eke out an humble existence would fill us with awe and amazement, as week as with admiration for them. / Shea, Maureen O -- They used to twist méaróga or grass roped out of finawn or tough mountain grass. -- Long ago people had many superstitions about the days of the week. / Brien, Eileen -- May Day -- My grandmother who is now 89 years old told me the following story as her father had told it to her. / Sullivan, Mary Teresa O -- Long ago in the olden times our grandmothers and grandfathers had good healthy food. / Brien, Eileen O -- It is said that Stague Fort was built in one night. -- A man was going home one night after a gamble and on his way passing a house he saw a woman standing outside it. / Brien, Eileen O -- They knew how to tan leather round here. / Sullivan, May O -- Some say it is very lucky to churn on May day and May day butter was supposed to cure any sore, though I heard another old woman, still living, say it was wrong to churn on May day. -- Irish Words / Shea, Sheila O -- Trammel fishing was the most used formerly, and those nets were home made. / Shea, Myles O' -- The people long ago used to grow flax for the use of linen making. -- Old Cures / Egan, Margaret -- In olden times there were a lot of fairies but they are not to be seen now. / Egan, Margaret -- Years ago there was a very old woman who lived in a thatched house. / Egan, Margaret -- Years ago a man was living by himself in a house. / Egan, Margaret -- On the Gloragh mountains a white hare was seen for three Sundays. / White, Agnes -- There lived long ago, a man who owned land in which was a fort. / Shea, Sheila O' -- Burnt briar leaves powdered finely are a cure for chafed skin. / Sullivan, Mary Teresa O -- On Hallow'een night I heard from an old man this story of a Hallow'een night many years ago. / Sullivan, Mary Teresa O -- An old woman was buried only a very short time. / Burns, Catherine -- Years ago people were playing cards in a neighbour's house. / Sullivan, Eileen -- There was a mason there long ago and they called him Seán Long. / White, Agnes -- It happened some time ago. / Egan, Margaret Mary -- Old Cures / Sullivan, May O -- Marriages -- Marriages -- Weather -- Old Schools -- Old Trades -- Old Schools -- Famine -- Place Names -- Holy Wells -- Herbs -- Proverbs -- Churns -- Na Dlíthe Peannaideacha -- Loch Eas Caoimh (Askive Lake) -- Lios an Rí -- Forges -- Landlords -- Food
description: Supported by funding from the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht (Ireland), University College Dublin, and the National Folklore Foundation (Fondúireacht Bhéaloideas Éireann), 2014-2016.