Old Bones
Posted: Wed Dec 26, 2012 10:06 pm
Can anyone help me identify two bones that were found in my ancestor’s home in West Clare?
My Conole family ancestor’s farm in Miltown Malbay Parish was abandoned when my great uncle died in 1945 and left in ruins. A few summers ago I was visiting the farm and I found a couple of old bones on a shelf to the right of the main fire hearth. The old house does not have a roof and only the gable ends and a low wall are still standing. The bones were next to each other under some dirt and plant vegetation.
I recognized then as bones immediately and figured they were from a farm animal but I didn’t know if they were a horse, cow or donkey.
I inquired about the bones origins from a local farmer and was told that they were probably cow bones and was kept as a Pishogue. It was explained to me that if a cow had died that the farmer would keep the bone and sometimes place the bone in the thatched roof to protect the other famer’s livestock.
Two days later, I was exploring through an O’Brien Ancestor’s ruined house (1960's) in the parish when I walked into the main room of the house and found the exact type of bone on top of all the debris on the floor.
If anyone knows of such a custom used or why a farmer would keep these bones in the house it would solve a mystery for me. I would be interested in hearing more on Pishogue’s.
The bones are about 9 1/2" long.
Thank you and have a Healthy and Happy 2013!
Slan,
Kevin J. O’Brien
My Conole family ancestor’s farm in Miltown Malbay Parish was abandoned when my great uncle died in 1945 and left in ruins. A few summers ago I was visiting the farm and I found a couple of old bones on a shelf to the right of the main fire hearth. The old house does not have a roof and only the gable ends and a low wall are still standing. The bones were next to each other under some dirt and plant vegetation.
I recognized then as bones immediately and figured they were from a farm animal but I didn’t know if they were a horse, cow or donkey.
I inquired about the bones origins from a local farmer and was told that they were probably cow bones and was kept as a Pishogue. It was explained to me that if a cow had died that the farmer would keep the bone and sometimes place the bone in the thatched roof to protect the other famer’s livestock.
Two days later, I was exploring through an O’Brien Ancestor’s ruined house (1960's) in the parish when I walked into the main room of the house and found the exact type of bone on top of all the debris on the floor.
If anyone knows of such a custom used or why a farmer would keep these bones in the house it would solve a mystery for me. I would be interested in hearing more on Pishogue’s.
The bones are about 9 1/2" long.
Thank you and have a Healthy and Happy 2013!
Slan,
Kevin J. O’Brien