Starting on Sunday next, September 2nd, Handed Down and Passed On is a four-part series that is gleamed from the 1937-1939 National School’s Folklore Collection (Bailiúchán na Scol). In our area we are lucky to have a rich contribution, (52 manuscripts from 49 schools and comprising 5,908 pages). Of the 49 teachers many are still remembered, and these fruits of their labours do them much credit. James P Griffith and Mary Stack, Ballindine; Karie |Walker, Balla, Mrs Bridget Hanley and Séamus Mullarkey, Taugheen; Mrs. McManus, Irishtown; An tSiúr Síle, Mount St. Michael; Seán Ó Laoire, Ballyfearna; Mrs. O’Malley, Murneen; Micheal J Kelly, Cuilltebo; Thomas Connolly, Loughaunnaman; John Costello, Meelickmore to mention but a few.

The contributions of 1930s pupils are presented by fellow townland residents and/or descendants of story collectors or story tellers from the collection.

Handed Down and Passed On will be broadcast on Sundays at 5pm, and repeated the following Tuesdays at 7pm.  The four programmes each cover one aspect of folklore and tradition:

• Programme 1: The World of work with crafts, skills, self-sufficiency and physical hardship.
• Programme 2: Marriages, weddings, feasts, dowries, matches, strawboys, making merry, fun and games.
• Programme 3: Health and sickness in a time without many doctors, home cures, herbs and superstitions, the quack and the piseog saving man and beast.
• Programme 4: Leisure and sport with great feats of strength and endurance, walking far, running fast, jumping high and long. Our heroes remembered and honoured again whether they surpassed all in games, in music or in lore.