cow 107 



reason for this killing of animals on St Martin's Eve is the belief 

 that some blood must be shed on that day. When a cow was 

 killed in an old Celtic family of fairly high degree, certain per- 

 quisites were claimed and received as follows : head, tongue, and 

 feet to the Smith (the killer or feller) ; neck to the Butcher ; two 

 small ribs that go with the hind quarters to the Tailor ; kidneys 

 to the Physician; marybones (marrow) to the dony-lader (duine 

 laidir), the strong man, or strongest in the house ; udder to the 

 Harper; liver to the Carpenter; a piece to the gearran-keeper, 

 (stablem.an) ; next bone from the knee to the shoulder to the 

 Horse boy (war-horse) ; choice piece of the beef to the Shot (game 

 provider); heart to the Cow-herd; next choice piece to the icije 

 of the house; the third choice piece to the Niwse ; tallow for 

 candles ; hide for wine and whisky ; black puddings for the 

 Ploughman; big puddings for the Weaver; kylantony (caolan 

 toine) to the porter ; dowleagh (dubh-leac), a broad long piece or 

 slab lying upon the entrails and dark, to the Calf Keeper ; sweet- 

 bread to her that is with child ; rump to him that cuts the beef 

 (the Master); tripes to the Kater (caterer, or thief, or "lifter"); 

 the great big pudding to the Water-drawer or carrier. 



The above mentioned "Physician" was also called "Astro- 

 nomer," and in Gaelic " Sndh, sridhan, or sruan, which means a 

 man of letters or ecclesiastic, being one of the " Household." 



The moniplies of a cow is "broilein," some also say the king's 

 hood ; the dewlap, caisean, cliobain, or cliobein ; caisean-uchd again 

 was, or is, a strip torn from the breast of cow killed at Christmas, 

 singed, and smelled by all in house as a preventive against 

 evil spirits. St Martin is a patron Saint of cows and cattle, and 

 the term " Free- Martin " refers to that celibate, a free-martin is 

 said to be the female of twin calves which never breeds. Charms 

 for all purposes in connection with cows are — or were— numerous. 

 W. Mackenzie, hder alia, gives the following, which is supposed to 

 be efficacious in the case of farrow cows — 



Eolas na daire rinn Moire 's a Mac 

 'S thubhairt Criosd fhein gu'm bu ro cheart ; 

 Air a cheud Luan 'chuir a chruidh gu luath a dhair 

 Gun fharlaogh 'n a dheigh, ach laoigh bhreaca bhoirionn 

 uile gu leir. 



The charm (knowledge) for the rutting (bulling) made by 



Mary and her Son ; 

 Jesus Himself said it was right 



On the first Monday (at the beginning of the moon) 

 To send the cattle (cows) quickly to the bull. 

 And that no extra-uterine conception should follow. 

 But spotted female calves (altogether). 



