Luck - Good and Bad

The concept of luck ran deep in the mind of the community of North Inis Eoghain. In the life of the people many forces, mysterious and unpredictable, were at work. Cattle got sick, people fell ill and crops failed. Good luck was at other times in control and man and beast were well and crops flourished.

Since bad luck very often meant complete disaster, every effort was made to avert it. Customs sanctioned by generations of experience were practised to protect and safeguard all against placed in a basket and left outside all night for the blessing of St. Brigid.

Early on the morning of the feast-day, the basket was brought into the house. Then the whole family went to Mass and on returning the crosses were placed in position. The cloth, known as the bratog Bhride, was kept for the use in case of sickness.

"LA BEAUTAINE"

In each townland it was considered that the house from which the smoke first ascended on the morning of May Day incurred all the bad luck for the year. On the other hand, the first at the well in the morning had all the good luck for the following year. The result was that there was much competition to get early to the well and to be later than the neighbours in lighting the morning fire.

A maypole was erected and around it the young people sang and danced. On the eve a fire was lighted on the street and the cows were driven through the smoke and the embers.

HALLOW EVE

This was known as a night on which spirits of all kinds were abroad. In the evening a ceremonial supper was held at which the whole family was present. Salt and meal were mixed and rubbed into the crown of the head in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost as a protection against evil.

ALL SOULS' NIGHT

It was the custom on this night to sweep the kitchen floor carefully and put on a good fire to welcome the souls of dead relatives who were still in purgatory. On the following morning the discerning eye could see the mark of feet in the ashes. If the footprints indicated a person facing the fire all was well but if they pointed towards the door a death would take place in the family during the coming year.

EMIGRATION

To wish the emigrant going to America a safe journey it was usual for the neighbours to come and spend the night before the departure in the house. Dancing and singing continued until the morning. As each visitor brought a bottle of poteen, this type of function was known here as a "bottling". The availability of so much whiskey had an exhilarating effect on the proceedings!

DISEASES

Many types of cures were available to the believing. For example, the cure for mumps was to put a donkey's bridle on the patient and lead him across a stream. The pair leading the patient were a man and wife who had the same surname.

THE SEA

Many were the customs associated with the sea and fishing. No wise boatman ever placed a white stone in his boat, because such a stone caused bad luck. It was unlucky to lift a dead body when out at sea. Stories were told of fishermen who refused to lift a body even though it was known to be the corpse of a neighbour or friend.

One story indicates that bad luck was associated with the drowned whether the corpse was on land or sea. A Malin Head woman residing at Dun an Ghrianain had a number of brothers engaged in fishing. Two of them were drowned and came in on the evening tide to Redford port. Her husband refused to allow the bodies to be brought into the house. A message was sent to the relatives at Malin Head and throughout the night the woman kept vigil alone by the side of the bodies lying on the seashore.

WITCHES

A typical story is related in various parts of North Inis Eoghain. Each area has its own localised version. One storyteller in Drumaville related that a hare was chased through the townland and was injured in the leg when passing through a pipe. The trail of blood was visible up to a named house in Ballymagaraghy. On the following day the woman of the house was found in bed with an injured leg. She was reputed locally to be a witch. The current belief was that witches took the form of a hare to secure milk from the neighbours' cows.

LIVESTOCK

It was important to ensure good luck for cattle and other livestock. A horse-shoe was placed above the door of the byre and stable to protect against evil. A neighbour invited to look at the livestock always said "May God bless them". as otherwise he would be suspected of "blinking". Certain people were considered to be unlucky and if these looked at the livestock sickness and even death could ensure. Each area had its own two or three suspects.

Sometimes the fairies would "shoot" a cow or horse and illness would follow. However, there was always a man who could cure the animal by methods not known to the veterinary surgeon. One such was Tomas Mac Criostail, a man of skill and knowledge in dealing with the powers of evil.

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