How Beggars Were Treated

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Abstract: Story collected by Frances O' Toole, a student at Donore school (Donore, Co. Meath) from informant Thomas Murray.

Original reference: 0682/1/219

Eóin, Maighréad Nic [Teacher]

Ireland. Department of Arts, Culture, and the Gaeltacht [Funder]

University College Dublin [Funder]

National Folklore Foundation [Funder]
Fondúireacht Bhéaloideas Éireann [Funder]

Loading... School Donore [Vol. 0682, Chapter 0001]

County The Schools' Manuscript Collection : County Meath Schools

COLLECTOR: Toole, Frances O'
Gender: female

INFORMANT: Murray, Thomas
Gender: male
Age: 58
Location: Donore (Civil parish)
Duleek Lower (Barony)
Meath (County)

Story text TEI

transcribed at

How Beggars Were Treated [duchas:4964482]

Beggars were very decently treated in the homes of the peasants a couple of generations ago. They used to carry a little bundle of straw with them everywhere they went, and at night they always got shelter in the home of some peasant. They would be allowed to sleep on the straw in the kitchen or in the barn. They were given food also. 

When they entered a house they used to say, "God bless all here, bar the cat and the dog."
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Long ago beggars were treated very well. They were different to the beggars of the present day. They never looked for money and were grateful for any help they got. They usually said, "Give me a little help and God bless you." When they got the help they used to say, "God bless you, and may you always have plenty to spare." Sometimes people gave them a meal. Farmers used to give them hay or straw to lie on, and they often gave them clothes. In some of the houses of the rich the beggars had a certain day of the week when they were given their dinner.

Resource description

Origin information: Donore, Co. Meath
Date created: [1937] – [1938]
Type of Resource: text
Physical description: p. 138
Volume 0682
Note: Collected as part of the Schools' Folklore scheme, 1937-1938, under the supervision of teacher Maighréad Nic Eóin.
Languages: English eng
Genre: Folktale
Subject: Irish Travellers (Nomadic people) linked data (lcsh); Travellers--An lucht taistil
Informant location: Donore Dún Uabhair Donore Donore Duleek Lower Meath
Location: https://doi.org/10.7925/drs1.duchas_5082510
Location: University College Dublin. National Folklore Collection UCD .
Original reference: 0682/1/219
Suggested credit: "How Beggars Were Treated"in "The Schools' Manuscript Collection," held by University College Dublin, National Folklore Collection UCD. © University College Dublin. Digital content by: Glenbeigh Records Management, published by UCD Library, University College Dublin <https://doi.org/10.7925/drs1.duchas_5082510>
Note: Collected as part of the Schools' Folklore scheme, 1937-1938, under the supervision of teacher Maighréad Nic Eóin.
Funding: 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.
Record source: Metadata creation date: 2014/2016 — Metadata created by Fiontar, Dublin City University, in collaboration with the National Folklore Collection UCD and UCD Library. Original Fiontar metadata converted into MODS by UCD Library.