Potatoes and Other Food

Kiltartan, Co. Galway

Potatoes could and were eaten at nearly every meal. People also boiled nettles and ate them. When meal was boiled for animals, people could eat that also but they never sat down for any meal. During the famine that broke out in 1846 and 1847 people were starving and ate horse flesh and anything else they could get.

Boxty made from potatoes and cooked on a griddle is a popular food.

There was always a custom that people ate eggs on Easter Sunday.

About 90 years ago tea was first used in the area. When the water was drawn for the tea people would strain it off. Sometimes the leaves could be mixed with butter and eaten. The tea was taken in wooden mugs called noggins.

Kiltartan, Co. Galway

Collector: Michael Moran, Gort, Co. Galway

Informant: Unknown

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

This page was added on 25/04/2017.

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