Food for Beggars

Beggars always got ‘Ráin pora’ – this was a cake of oaten bread boiled in porridge made in 4 ‘parleys’. People used to make 3 of these in the month of March with a lot of nettles added to make them healthy. People gave it to the beggars but all in the house could eat it. People used to keep the beggars overnight and give them potatoes and milk and perhaps some butter when leaving the next morning.

Gortnadeeve West, Co.Galway

Collector: Jude Henry, Faartan, Co. Galway

Informant: Unknown

Duchas, ‘The Schools’ Collection’, www.duchas.ie