Food and mealtimes long ago

Long ago the people used to have four meals each day, one at eight o clock and other at one o clock, another at six and one at eleven. The people used to get up at six and work for two hours before their breakfast. Potatoes were used for two meals. They used to eat cakes and drink butter milk and skimmed milk. First when tea came around a man used to go around with a van selling it to the people. At that time, they used to eat the tea leaves and throw away the tea. The people used to have the table near the wall during the day and when they would be going eating they would put it in the middle of the floor.

They used to have special food for certain times of the year such as eggs for Easter and pancakes on pancake night. For their breakfast the people used to have oaten bread and before tea came into the country they used to drink milk. Potatoes were used for dinner and supper and they used to have meat for the lunch.

Collector: Mary Mannion

Informant: Patrick Mannion, Tonmoyle

Place: Kilgeverin

Footnote: Duchas, http://www.duchas.ie