In many areas of my research I have come across the belief in the curative and protective powers of objects – water, clay, iron, stones, - are the more obvious and well-known, but what about the efficacy of wisps of straw, the magical power of rushes, the protection afforded the family by a cow’s afterbirth and the potency of the colour red etc. If objects could protect they could also do damage. The colour green for clothes was considered ‘unlucky’ in many parts of Ireland, and if a child’s nails were cut with a scissors before she was one year old she might become a thief. And much more…
Anne O’ Dowd worked as a curator in the National Museum inventorying the collection of Irish Folklife, taking care of the collection, adding many thousands of objects to it, keeping the dream of a Folklife Museum in Ireland alive for years and selecting the site of Turlough Park in Mayo for the long-awaited Museum. During those years she published a Master’s thesis – Meitheal, 1981, a PhD, Spalpeens and tattie hokers, 1990 – in addition to writing a host of articles on Irish folklife and tradition. After retirement from the Museum she published Straw, hay and rushes in Irish folk tradition in 2015. Anne is currently preparing a volume on cloaks and petticoats.
Admission is €10 (cash only)
Booking in advance
Email to museum@tipperarycoco.ie
