DOI: 10.7925/drs1.duchas_4922383
title: Lahinch

description: A collection of folklore and local history stories from Lahinch (school) (Lehinch, Co. Clare), collected as part of the Schools' Folklore Scheme, 1937-1938 under the supervision of teacher Dónall Ó Ríordáin.
description: Not far from our house on the top of the cliff near the sea there is a little well, called St Senan's. -- Rough Sketch of District -- About 100 years ago there was a practice among the people who lived by the sea shore at Bartra and Rineen. -- About 70 years ago, and not very far from Lahinch there was a man working in a field with a plough and a pair of horses. -- During the period of the late Anglo-Irish struggle a soldier who was stationed at Ennistymon was shot dead in an ambush near the gate of M. Ross Roses's house on the hill outside Lahinch. -- About 5 years ago a Miss Mary Davitt was bathing at Cregg near Lahinch. After her bathe she went out along the rocks picking periwinkles. -- Before O' Briens Bridge was built that is the bridge crossing the Inagh River near its mouth there a ford which the people used to cross when going to Liscannor from Lahinch. -- When Diarmuid and Grainne were 'on the run' they stayed for time in a farm which is now owned by a farmer named Mr Mac Mahon. -- There are 2 small lakes in the townland of Dough about a mile from the village of Lahinch. One is shaped like a heat and has a stream running out of it. -- In days gone by as the old people say Lahinch was not the seaside resort that it is now. -- Near the mouth of the Inagh river stands the ruin of an old castle. -- About a mile and a half from Lahinch there is a graveyard called Cillmanaheen. -- There is a little village about 2 and a half miles from Lahinch (S.E.). -- There was an old witch going around this locality one time whose name was Biddy Early. -- There was a man living in Tullygarvan, Lahinch one time whose name was Tommy Nagle R.I.P. -- There was a man one time whose name was Turlough Mac Stairn. -- There was a highway robber one time whose name was Delaney. -- Not many years ago there lived between Ennistymon and Lahinch a woman who was supposed to be a very bad living person. -- Not many years ago during the time of the Anglo-Irish war in Ireland there were lands of Irish military situated here and there. -- Up to the year 1831 it was all hedge-schools that were in this country as there was a price laid on teacher's heads, and they were forced to teach by a hedge. -- There was a man in service in this locality one time whose name was Jack Reynolds (R.I.P.). -- There was a beautiful hotel situated about 100 yards from Lahinch, and it was burned to the ground on the month of March 1934. -- About three miles from here there lived a man named Michael Queally (R.I.P.). He was a man that was very well known through the country as being a great weaver. -- In the olden times many people were able to cure all diseases, but today herbs or charms are not much used, because the people are not able to do the work. -- About thirty years ago there came a great storm which did great damage. -- The custom of Marriages in this part of the country has been changed within the past few years. -- About two miles from Lahinch, there is situated in the Moy district a blessed well called after St Anastatia. -- About four miles from Lahinch in the townland of Knockpatrick there is a man named Patrick Reynolds who was a noted mower. -- There are lots of people that come around the country from time to time called 'tinkers'. -- Some years ago, ther elived in Ballybeg an old man whose name was John Queally. -- Snaidhm na Péiste -- The Cure for breast bone trouble. When a person is ailing, losing appetite and the Doctors cannot find out what is really wrong, that person goes and has his breast bone raised by a person who knows how to do it. -- Cures -- In the long winter's night when children and sometimes elderly people are sitting around the fire, perhaps one of them suggests to play 'sharing the ring'. -- About half a mile from Lahinch there is an old ruin. -- About two miles from Lahinch there is a townland which is called Tullygarvan. -- For the past few days I have noticed lots of people mostly ladies picking Dandelion or Caistreabháin which it is sometimes called. -- Riddles -- How Súgáns Are Made -- Comharthaí na hAimsire agus Seanráite -- How Stampy Is Made -- Old Customs in Marriage -- Names of Places in Locality -- About two miles from Lahinch there is a family of Kinnanes, and these are noted for their handiness. -- Nearly all the houses in this locality are thatched, and the farmers thatch them themselves. -- About 1 1/2 from our school there is a family of Kinnanes. A hundred yards west of this house there was a family of Keane. -- There was a man in the village of Lahinch one time whose name was Tom Clancy. -- Our Lord and St. Peter were walking along through the country one day and they were admiring the crops. -- The Fianna Éireann had a vow to go where they were invited: another vow was, that when they saw a deer they should follow it until they caught up to it. -- Long ago in Holland there was a mighty chieftain named Tailc Mac Train. He was going to be married between himself and a Princess. -- About half a mile from Lahinch, there is an old road leading down to the sea at Cregg. Down this road people go to get seaweed. -- Food in Olden Times -- Customs of Funerals -- My Home District -- Festival Customs -- St Bridget's Day -- St Patrick's Day -- Shrove Tuesday -- Ash Wednesday -- Good Friday -- Easter Sunday -- Whit Sunday -- May Day -- St Martin's Day -- Hallowe'en -- Christmas -- In this locality one time there lived a woman whose name was Nora O' Brien and this woman had a habit of gathering all kinds of herbs and then putting them into a jam pot.
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.