Browne — Ethnograiihy of Bally croy^ Co. Mayo. 95 



tants of Ballycroy with a good deal of distrust, and many tales are 

 told to their disfavour, for which the usual allowance must be made. 

 Trustworthy informants, however, seem to agree in the statements 

 following : — The people of Ballycroy are reputedly sharp and shrewd 

 in matters of business; they are good judges of character in their 

 customers, and can readily adapt themselves to their peculiarities, 

 and, their neighbours assert, are not over-scrupulous about taking any 

 advantage which offers. As a rule, however, creditable informants 

 state they are very honest in their dealings with one another. 



They are fond of amusement, especially music and dancing, and 

 show more signs of artistic taste than were observed in any district 

 yet reported on, though their choice in colours may not be always 

 classically correct. They are sharp at repartee, and a good deal 

 given to j oking, often of a very practical nature. Formerly this district 

 was noted, like the other parts of Erris, for the litigious character of 

 its people, but this spirit has largely died out. The faction fights 

 which used to occur between the peoples of iN'orth and South Bally- 

 croy are a thing of the past, though some few remaining signs of the 

 old feeling on this poiut were noticed. The Ballycroy people used 

 formerly to be noted for their quarrelsome nature, which is almost 

 proverbial in the other parts of Erris ; but this no longer characterises 

 them to the same extent, a change which is said to be in part at least due 

 to the almost complete suppression of illicit distillation in the district. 

 When quarrels occur the men seldom go the length of a stand-up 

 fight, man to man, but make use of abusive language, and throw stones, 

 or several will set on one. They are not, as a rule, given to drink, 

 and in their everyday life are sober and quiet, but on, fair days, or at 

 races or other public occasions, a good deal of drinking takes place. 

 When in liquor they are very boastful, and the local pride, which is 

 evident in them at all times, shows out more strongly. Most of them 

 seem to look upon themselves as far superior to all the neighbouring 

 peoples. This pride, by cultivating a sense of self-respect, seems, in 

 some cases, to be the moving spring of a manly and independent 

 spirit which is exhibited by many. In connection with this, one 

 curious feeling may be noted. It was some years ago considered to 

 be an indelible disgrace to any Ballycroy woman to sell butter. 



To strangers the people are obliging and kindly, ready to afford 

 information, and extremely hospitable. To one another they are 

 generous, especially in times of trouble or adversity, when, even though 

 in straitened circumstances themselves, they are ready to help those 

 worse off. 



