Old Houses

transcribed at

Old Houses  [duchas:5040226]

Until comparatively lately all the houses in the district were thatched.
Houses built on the mountain side were of stone. The others were made of clay and sods. Pillars or ''knees'' made of bog oak were sunk in the ground to bear the weight of the roof.
Couples were pegged to the pillars with ash pegs put through auger holes. The walls were usually wattle and daub locally called catan clay. Rushes or straw was mixed with clay and well tramped to make this clay. The chimney was made of rods twisted around to form a creel shape. The cavan clay was put around.
The thatch was either flax rye or wheaten straw. There was no glass in the small windows

Old Houses  [duchas:5040227]

a little shutter was open halfway
''Hakes'' were used instead of of wooden doors. They were wicker doors thatched with rushes and were turned in whatever direction the storm was coming.
The kitchen was a room about 12ft sq. behind the fire and there was a small 6ft room the other side usually without a fireplace 
Over that was a loft reached by a step ladder. This loft had a window on the gable end.
The floors were made of a clay 
Half doors were not common in those days but many houses the present day have them 
Turf was burned on the large hearth and bog wood was plentiful. Rush candles were generally used.
The lofts were made of rods plaited like wickerwork and on them were stored things not in general use.
Lamps made of wood with a piece of corduroy or woollen material

Old Houses  [duchas:5040228]

burning as a wick in some kind of grease were common. This lamp stood on the hob of the kitchen fire and was kept lighting there each night.