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Archiver > IRISH-AMERICAN > 2003-12 > 1070573934


From: "Jean Rice" <>
Subject: Re: [Irish-American] Phrase, "Doing a Shannon"/"Night Time" -- Leitrim's Mary GUCKIAN (contemp.) -- Participant, recent cultural exchange w/Boston
Date: Thu, 4 Dec 2003 13:38:54 -0800
References: <FIEDJODHOBLEFKLAPILBEEBKCIAA.sjhawley@interisland.net>


Irene and Sandy -- Re the phrase "doing a shannon" - I heard back this
morning from Mary Guckian, who is busy with several projects for Christmas.
She said that in her childhood (1940s) in rural Leitrim it meant a trip "out
in the cold, out the back door" to relieve oneself before going to bed.
She remarked that these days people often have several toilets in their
homes whether they have large families or not -- quite a change from the
olden times. Jean

----- Original Message -----
From: "Sandra Hawley" <>
To: <>
Sent: Wednesday, December 03, 2003 9:11 PM
Subject: RE: [Irish-American] "Night Time" -- Leitrim's Mary GUCKIAN
(contemp.) -- Participant, recent cultural exchange w/Boston


> You know, that is what I thought too. But that's not what we called it as
> kids. So I was not sure.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Irene Landenberger [mailto:]
> Sent: Wednesday, December 03, 2003 8:26 PM
> To:
> Subject: Re: [Irish-American] "Night Time" -- Leitrim's Mary GUCKIAN
> (contemp.) -- Participant, recent cultural exchange w/Boston
>
> I suspect a "shannon" was a trip to the outhouse or whatever served.
Irene
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Sandra Hawley
> To:
> Sent: Wednesday, December 03, 2003 9:55 PM
> Subject: RE: [Irish-American] "Night Time" -- Leitrim's Mary GUCKIAN
> (contemp.) -- Participant, recent cultural exchange w/Boston
>
>
> Actually three in a double bed was just what we did. I think it was
> comforting. Not crowded because we were still little. And we could
talk.
> The littlest one slept in the middle. And it did get cold in Wisconsin
so
> it was ok as long as we all had enough covers.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Jean Rice [mailto:]
> Sent: Wednesday, December 03, 2003 12:18 PM
> To:
> Subject: Re: [Irish-American] "Night Time" -- Leitrim's Mary GUCKIAN
> (contemp.) -- Participant, recent cultural exchange w/Boston
>
> Hi, Sandy - I just happen to know the poetess so will ask her. I
thought
> maybe it was a bath in a tub or a dip in the lake? I'll try to find
out.
> Was three in a bed comforting, too crowded and a nuisance, or both?
Jean
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Sandra Hawley" <>
> To: <>
> Sent: Tuesday, December 02, 2003 7:22 PM
> Subject: RE: [Irish-American] "Night Time" -- Leitrim's Mary GUCKIAN
> (contemp.) -- Participant, recent cultural exchange w/Boston
>
>
> > The line "Before bedtime we go outside to do a Shannon"
> >
> > What is a Shannon?
> >
> > My sisters and I slept three to a bed back in the old days.
> >
> > Sandy



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