Night pastimes were knitting and spinning. The wool was bought in large hanks, enough to make two jumpers. The men would hold the hanks for winding.
The houses had flagged floors, the women used to put four pegs down in a square for the warp and weft.
The men wore flannel trousers they only had one pair and when they had that pair worn they would get another pair. People came from all over Achill and other areas to thicken the friez (material).
There was also a milling stone , it was used for grinding the oats. This was done at night and given to the people in famine times. They did this at night because the Catholics were not allowed food. If the British found out they would be thrown out of their homes. That’s why the land is as it is to-day a piece here and there.
Some families were thrown out and sent to Belmullet and old Pat Sweeney got them back. They would stay in the neighbours house until they got their own place
The people ate grass if they had a long wait for the boat that would come with food. The skipper was a man by the name of Pat McNeela from Derrens, he was a pirate. Some people died on the shore in Belfarsad and was buried there. The stones are there to mark the graves.
The Heffernan brothers made coffins for some of the famine victims. People are advised not to go to the shore at night.
Skip to content
