This blog post details some of the folklore and history surrounding shoes in early 20th century Ireland. It is based on information supplied by Pat Burke of Killamonagh, Co. Galway in 1938.
‘Long ago the people never wore shoes until they were twenty years. The water they washed their feet with they threw it out. The people that used to wear shoes used to leave them off from St Patrick’s Day to the first of October. There was a woman named Peggy Flynn and she did not throw out the water she washed her feet with and the fairies came in that night and they told her they would not do anything if she brought them in a riddle (strainer/colander) of water. She went for the water and as she was filling the water it was going out through the bottom of the riddle. She did not know what to do.
There was a man near her and he told her to plaster the riddle with cow dung. So she brought the water to the fairies and when she went in she told them that the hill of Cnoc Máidhe was on fire, and when the fairies heard that they ran out and when they were gone she threw out the feet water and closed the door and they could not come in again.
There used be cobblers and shoemakers who repaired and made boots. Button boots used to be worn by girls – buttons on one side up to the top. There was a stuff called “guta perka” used in boots some forty years ago. Shoemakers were often deformed in their feet – eg club footed as their trade did not require any walking about. Very often they were witty or perhaps sarcastic as suited the occasion. They had a fund of local doings as people often came in and chat[ted] with them.
People used carry their boots to within a short distance of town and put them on; they used take them off in the same place going home to spare the soles. They used put goose grease on the leather if the leather was very hard. People in Connemara, the women folk do not wear boots most of the year. They wear or used to wear stockings without any soles.
Elastic boots used to be worn too – elastic on the ends, and they were pulled up on the foot. They were very comfortable. The soles of the boots were heavily coated with nails to protect the soles and prolong the wear‘.
This account forms part of the Schools’ Folklore Collection, a large and important corpus of material, whose compilation occurred between 1937 and 1939. This far-sighted scheme, run by the Irish Folklore Commission, saw over 100,000 schoolchildren collecting local folklore from their parents, grandparents and older members of the community.
Notes
The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0022, Page 0403
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A nice piece of historical writing. Really down to earth and the way it was as related to us by my folks through many years. Especially the hobnail boots part. Thanks for reviving some old family memories.
Hi
Just came across this page..
My mother was a Flynn, but born Birmingham, England & when i was younger she always told me that her Flynn ancesters came from a long line of Cobblers in Eire..at the time being young i didn’t take much notice of this..
Untill about 15yrs ago when i started researching my fam tree & my mothers Flynn ancesters..
My Grandfather David Flynn..was born B’ham in 1912, His father David Flynn Born 1875 B’ham & his father David Flynn was Born in 1841 in Galway Eire & married a english woman, he was a Boot maker by trade & So was his father Daneil Flynn..
But this is where we hit a brick wall..
David Flynn born 1841 Came over to England with his mother & Siblings we believe before 1861..
They fled the Great Irish Pototo famine..
Her name was Mary Flynn( Unknown maiden name) she was born in galway in about 1820 & Married Daneil Flynn Born about 1819 in Galway Eire( Shoe maker by Trade)
When mary came to england with children she was recorded as widowed on the 1861 Uk Census record..
Mary had childen as follows
Patrick flynn( born 1837)
Mary flynn(1838)
David flynn(bron 1841) Bootmaker by trade( my 2 X great-Grandfather)
Micheal Flynn ( born 1844)
Daniel Flynn( Born 1848)
Bridget Flynn(born 1849)
Margaret Flynn( born 1851)
Maria Flynn( born 1855)
And Possibily a john flynn..
All born western galway Eire..
Sadly we can’t find birth records for mary as unable to find her maiden name & marrage to daneil Flynn..
And also can’t find birth records for above children above either..
Info on Uk census records states fatger daneil flynn was born galway & was a Shoemaker by trade..
I’d love to find a family connection in galway to my flynn ancesters..
This & other generations lived & died in Birmi gham England..
There must be someone in Galway that knows about the Flynn Boot/Shoemakers..
Especaily Daneil & David Flynn
Drop me a reply if you think you may be connected to these flynns..
Thanks
Hello Lisa , I do not know if you will get this message , I was interested in this as my great grandfather and his brother were shoe and boot makers in East Galway there family name is Smyth . . I do not know where they went to train .
This year a have joined two facebook groups to find out more one is an East Galway group .
There are no birth records in Ireland until after 1865 so you have to use baptism records .
Maria