Old Houses

transcribed at

Old Houses  [duchas:4383260]

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Old House
Mr Dillon told me the following-
The houses in Balscadden long ago, were all built of mud and straw. Many of the firesent houses are built of the same materials and as long as fires are kept during in them they will never fall. The walls are about two feet thick and sometimes three. Straw was mixed with the clay or mud to give a  good bond as the people say They were old and thatched but zinc roofs are now placed over the thatch in many places. There are the remains of some of those old houses still to be seen and the mud wall with the straw sticking out can stand all weathers. The thatch (straw) was got from the farmers around. It had to be steeped in the river for some time before it was used. Everyman around here could and can thatch, and Balscadden thatches are in great demand around the country. The windows were very small not more than a foot square. The old houses still occupied have the big open chimney. The fire was on the heart tone, wood being the principal fuel. There was an iron bar across in the chimney and from this bar the pot hook

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hung. All cooking was done in pots or ovens slung over the fire from the crook in this bar. The fire place was always against the gable wall and two low benches ran on each side of the fire place. A wooden partition with a small window about nine inches square, kept out the breeze during the time. An oak beam generally ran across the front of the chimney place and from this the home0cured bacon was hung in flitches. The smoke helped to cure the bacon. The houses were small and often the families large, so beds were often in the kitchen. These were called settle beds. They folded up and were used as a couch during the day. These houses conditions are still here in Balscadden.
Eileen Finn VII ST.
Told by Mr Joe Lynch
Balscadden