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THE HOUSE
The visitor to North Inis Eoghain circa 1930 will have noted
that the typical dwelling-house was a two-roomed, one-story dwelling.
Some had a slated roof but the majority were thatched with flax.
The outer walls were white-washed with lime each year and a little
patching was done oftener where the lime had been stained or washed
away.
There was usually one outer door but in some cases there was also
a back door. This last was unpopular because it tended to make the
house colder in winter. At the door were placed large stone flags.
These were known as the "door-stones" and were always
kept washed and clean. From the door-stones a sort of open water
passage led to a closed drain. This passage was made of paving stones
laid side by side in the soil in such a manner as ensured an incline
from each side towards the centre. The name "trinked"
was applied to this passage-way, which was designed to take away
from the house the water used for washing, etc. The outer door led
directly into the large room and was placed at the point in the
outer wall where the inner cross-wall separating the two rooms touched.
This large room was known as the "kitchen" and served
as a living room and dining room, and in many cases as a bedroom
for some members of the family.
On entering one noticed that there were two windows, one in the
front and a smaller one in the back. By 1930 in most cases the old
clay floor had given way to cement but often the leac na tine
had been preserved. This was a stone flag placed in front of the
fireplace. Looking upwards one noted the bac - the main cross-beam
of bog oak supporting the roof. The wattles and scraths supporting
the roof were visible. Later the custom was to cover the side of
the roof with bags. These gave way to a ceiling of timber later
again.
In the upper section of the kitchen, to the right of the fireplace,
one noticed a bed surrounded by curtains. Here the boys of the house
slept. In some houses a settle-bed was used instead. This was an
item of furniture which served as a bed at night and a sort of couch
by day. Around the kitchen seats were placed. These were known as
forms or stools. There was no back support on this type of seating.
Chairs were rarely used. By the fireside there was placed a low
backless seat known as a "creepy". This was made usually
of a solid block of bog oak or fir. A plain deal table completed
the furnishing of the kitchen.
Against the wall between the two rooms stood the dresser. On the
upper portion of this was displayed the delph ware - bowls used
for porridge and tea, plates and, on top, a row of large willow-pattern
platters. The last-named were for display rather than use. The lower
portion contained a cupboard in which such items as bread, tea and
sugar were stored.
One also observed the churn and churnstaff, the spinning wheel
and the reel. The last named was a device for measuring the yarn
and forming it into "cuts" for despatch to the weaver.
THE ROOM
The second chamber in the house was known as "the room".
Here usually the female members of the family slept. Two beds were
placed along the back wall. Between the beds was formed a small
room used as a wardrobe and above the beds was the "tester"
- a sort of attic. This room was largely unused save as a bedroom.
Important visitors were entertained here, however, and on Station
Day the priest officiated in it. It became to a great extent the
show-piece of the family.
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