Johnny the Sugar Stick Man

Johnny used to put sugar and water in a can and when it was boiled he used to roll it on the hearthstone to thicken it. He had red paint and he used to put stripes through it. It was just as good as any sugar stick today. His wife, Biddy, used to bring it to the market to sell it. She used to shout out “bigger one, longer one, stronger one, thicker one”.

Collector: Unknown

Informant: Martin Collins

Place: Gortnadeeve West, Co. Galway

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