JOHN CORBETT presents a selection of memories of August in the countryside.

 

August, was the fifth month in the old Roman calendar. January and February were added around 713 BC to give the present count of twelve. The month is named in honour of Augustus Caesar, who was the first Roman Emperor. He ruled between 27 BC and 14 AD.
Although it’s the first month of Autumn, we regarded August as Summer because of the warm weather and of course we were enjoying our break from school.
In Ireland it marked the beginning of the pagan festival of Lughnasa’. The festival involved great gatherings that included spiritual ceremonies, athletic contests, feasting, matchmaking and trading of animals, goods, and materials. There were also visits to holy wells and sacred sites for cleansing and spiritual purification.

THE HOLY WELL IN ATHENRY AND OTHER CELEBRATIONS
In our time most of these activities had disappeared. However, visiting holy wells was still common. The main event in our calendar took place in Athenry on the 15th. of August, where huge crowds assembled at the edge of the town to honour the Virgin Mary.
We waited anxiously on the days leading up to the 15th. We ensured that our bicycles were in working order and hoped that bad weather or other unforeseen circumstances wouldn’t prevent us from getting there. Our companions would join us for the 12-mile journey. It was the last big outing during the summer break, and we were determined to make the most of it.
Huge crowds gathered at the Well. They recited the Rosary and other prayers as they walked around it in a clockwise direction. When we finished praying, we visited the shops and treated ourselves to ice- cream and other ‘goodies.’
The fact that fairground attractions were also to hand made for a most enjoyable day as far as we were concerned. The shops and pubs were busy, and adults enjoyed the music and ballads that were being performed there and on the streets of the town.

AUGUST ON THE LAND
It was a busy time in the early days. Weeks were spent in the meadow. Much of July was taken up making meadow cocks. When the hay had seasoned, it was time to take it home. Most of the heavy work was done by adults but children helped too. We felt we were ‘grown-up’ if we were allowed to fork the hay onto the cart. Wealthy farmers had ‘floats’ onto which the hay was levered without the necessity of forking it.

One of my happiest memories is sitting on top of a load of hay in a rubber–tyred cart. I don’t know from whom we had borrowed it because we never owned the likes. It was very comfortable, sitting aloft, where one had a panoramic view of the countryside.
I don’t remember any other occasion when such a wonderful view was to be had. It’s a treat that children living in the modern world are unlikely to experience.
Sheds were scarce back then so when hay was brought from the meadows it was usually made into large haggard cocks. Plenty of elbow grease and a certain amount of skill was required to do this job properly.

 

BRINGING HOME THE TURF
The bog had to be attended to also. By the end of July, turf would have been ‘footed’ or made into ricks. August was a popular time for taking it home. Unlike meadow work, there was less pressure to get the job done. In our bog, (Coolock}, carts were used for this task.
During, and immediately after World War II, lorries transported the peat from there to towns and cities all over the country but when that phase ended, lorries were used less often. Rustics relied on horse and donkey-drawn vehicles for many years.
It was put into sheds or made into ricks near the dwellings after being taken home.
Turf was never spared. Even in August fires were burning constantly in all the neighbours’ houses. Of course, when the midday meal was over, fires were tuned down until needed for cooking. Raking, by covering them with ashes, was the general method of keeping them alive overnight. Ash pits were usually located at the rear of houses.

THE RAMBLING HOUSES
Very few lamps were lit in August. Visitors were happy to talk and enjoy one another’s company into the early hours. No matter how busy things were on the farm, our parents and their friends found time to relax. Music sessions were held at home, in Burkes of Colmanstown and at Tuohy’s in Ballygreaney. Tuohys also hosted card games, but they rarely took place at home.

 

Continue reading in this week’s Ireland’s Own