Differences Old and New Customs (3mins 58secs)
Here are some great accounts of the lives of Traveller women and how they differ from years ago to today. Bridget O'Brien (originally from Wexford) starts off talking about her mother in a lovely way and how she never used any creams on her face but instead she used the dew on the grass to wash her face and also the first snow. There is also a great reference to how precious water was and how her parents would carry a bucket of water on the wagon as they travelled the roads and used it to make the "tay".
Alice Berry in the next clip doesn't mince her words and tells us that the women years ago were "stronger women". Her mother reared 16 children and she feels that the younger women today don't have the same skills as they did. She talks about how many younger women don't do any manual work these days when pregnant compared to her mothers time where they worked hard and had no other option. She then tells us that there is a new thing where young couples put flowers and a folded towel in the oven in their caravans trailers. The ovens are not used it appears and she told me off camera that the young couples are "too fond of their takeaways". I am glad Alice shared this, as I hear the exact same story from settled people with regard to younger people not cooking and people eating too much takeaways and convenience foods. These are conversations worth having.