Lime-Kilns
18th May 1938
About twenty years ago every farmer in this district had a lime kiln. This was a hole dug int the ground and built with stones. The people used to call this a "póreen". At the bottom of the kiln there was a hole. This is how they used to burn lime:- They put sticks in the bottom and set them on fire, then turf, then broken lime-stones, next sticks and turf again and continued in this way until the lime kiln was filled.
Then they covered it well with clay so as to keep the heat and flames from coming out. The lime stones had to be kept burning for 4 or 5 days.
The farmers had to stay up a night to keep the fire burning with turf.
When the lime stones were burned into lime the farmers took it our of the hole in the side of the kiln with a shovel. When the lime was out of the kiln the kiln was thatched with rushes or straw for safety in case rain would come and fill the kiln with water. Some people burn lime in this district still.
“INFORMANT: William Ruane, Age 50, Tawnagh More, Co. Mayo
18th May 1938
”