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Collections --»
Folkcrafts
The second half of the 20th century has witnessed a decline in many traditional rural practices. One such skill involved making objects from straw. At one time a common folkcraft in county Armagh, it was associated with a variety of local customs, particularly at harvest time. This versatile material was also put to practical use for household and farm items.
The most unusual straw object in the collection is the tall Mummers mask. Mumming was an ancient custom involving dancing, reciting rhymes and singing songs. TGF Patterson, the first Curator of Armagh County Museum, wrote about many of these traditions in the book Harvest Home.
