Synopses & Reviews
Synopsis
Excerpt from Reminiscences of an Engineer: At Home and Abroad
While at Youghal, we English attended an Irish wake, it was of a young man. Downstairs in a parlour, pipes, tobacco and whiskey were upon a centre or round table, chairs were placed around this table for the accommodation of the more distant relations or friends. Upstairs, where the body lay, those more nearly connected, or more interested in the deceased, were assembled. On each side of the bed, professional keeners or chanters were engaged; the poor mother was at the foot. The audience was seated on stools around. The keeners rose, singing the praises of the dead, rising higher and higher in voice and excitement, until the mother at the foot cried out in utter grief and despair. The keeners then sat down, rested, and had some whiskey, as did the audience around. This pro ceeding goes on in both rooms, for three nights. One night for us was sufficient. We paid liberally towards expenses, and left in peace.
Another time we joined a wedding in the kitchen of our inn. The priest was there, and drink abounded. Things were getting a little fast when we left, giving money to keep the game alive. The bride was the chambermaid of the inn the bridegroom the boots. The whole proceeding was a thorough case of high life below stairs.
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