630 Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy. 



is likely to succeed in collecting much. Fortunately there is a 

 resident (the Rev. P. A. 0'E.eilly), who is engaged in collecting the 

 old Irish songs of the district, several of which he has already 

 published. As to the legends, many of these have been recorded by 

 C. 0. and Mr. Knight, to whose works the reader is referred. 



The following notes, mainly dealing with what may be termed 

 minor folk-lore, were some of them obtained from fishermen and others 

 of the natives, but mainly through the kindness of several residents, 

 some of whom desired that their names should not be mentioned. 



1. Customs and Beliefs. — For the majority of the notes on these I 

 am indebted to the kindness of Mr. J. A. Nolan, of Belmullet, who, 

 being a native of the district, and personally acquainted with nearly 

 everyone in it, has an exceptionally large knowledge of the subject; 

 for a large part of what remains I have also to thank Messrs. F. C. 

 Wallace, d.i. k.i.c, Belmullet, and P. T. O'Reilly, Carn. 



A very large number of things are considered lucky or the 

 reverse. It is unlucky to dig a grave on a Monday, on which 

 day also no change of residence should be made, a Friday should 

 rather be chosen, as that is the lucky day for moving. To meet a 

 red-haired woman on starting out in the morning, to mention a priest 

 while fishing, to take fish out of a house without sprinkling some 

 salt on it, to sell milk without putting in a pinch of salt, to give fire 

 out of the house on May-day, or to anyone in whose dwelling a sick 

 person may be, all these are unlucky. People " born with teeth " 

 are unlucky also ; but to be "born with a caul " is a sign of great 

 good fortune, though should the original owner ever see it his luck 

 will depart ; the possession of a caul is believed to protect against 

 death by drowning. A mole on the face, if " above the breath," is 

 considered to have the same protective influence. 



Death within the year is believed to be the fate of the man who 

 has the temerity to make an addition to the western side of his 

 house, or to build out at the back ; several instances of men who died 

 within a short time after thus offending are sure to be told to the in- 

 credulous. 



The banshee, the death-watch, the creaking of furniture, and 

 the howling of a dog at night are all looked upon as death-warnings. 

 Several persons were met with who asserted that they had heard the 

 banshee before the death of relatives. 



At weddings the bride and bridegroom must step over the 

 threshold of the chapel door together, as whichever goes out first 

 will be the first to die. 



