260 Proceedings of the lloijal Irhh Academy. 



not get by boat, had often to wait for clays until the water was low 

 enough in the channel to ford, but even when fordable the current 

 was very strong, and people have more than once been swept away, 

 and drowned in the attempt to cross. 



Y. FOLK-LOKE. 



Connemara is reputedly rich in folklore, and it may be presumed 

 that a secluded part of it, like this group of islands, still retains much 

 that may have died out elsewhere, but owing to the natural reticence 

 of the people on this subject, especially with strangers, very little 

 information could be obtained, and that only on what may be termed 

 minor folklore. Legends, traditions, and hero tales no doubt exist, 

 but no specimens could be obtained, nor could any information be 

 obtained about them. 



The following notes were collected, however, mainly through the 

 kindness of tlie Rev. E. A. Lavelle, Mr. Michael Lavelle, Mrs. 

 McDonogh of Crappagh, and Mr. P. Healy, National Teacher, Letter- 

 niuUen. 



1. Customs and Beliefs. — Much faith is placed in omens or portents, 

 and the number of things considered lucky or otherwise is large. It 

 is considered unlucky to move into a new house on a Monday, while 

 Friday is thought to be the proper day for this. To build an addition 

 to one's house on the west side is thought to be always followed by 

 misfortune. A story is told of a man in Garumna who built on to his 

 house on the west side and got " touched in the head " shortly after- 

 wards (which, of course, was ascribed to his rash action in building 

 in the prohibited direction), aud remained so until the addition was 

 altogether removed. 



To meet a red-haired woman on starting out in the morning is 

 looked on as an unlucky omen for the day's work. It is unlucky also 

 to see a hare cross one's path, or to mention the name of this animal 

 while fishing. A crowing hen is thought to portend evil, and one 

 which indulges in this habit is killed at once and thrown over the 

 h.ouse tliree times to avert the misfortune which her action would 

 otherwise produce. Undersized lobsters when taken are never put 

 back into the water lest returning anything to the sea which had been 

 taken out of it might spoil the luck of the fishery. 



Milk will not be given out of a house on a Monday or on May Day. 

 On the 1st of May also a fire is not put down early, as it is thought 

 to be unlucky for a house to have the " first smoke " on this day. If 



