This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/YWC.2ACI/5422.1 Message Board Post: Hi Michael - This appeared in a past issue of the "Leitrim Guardian" yearly magazine. Could any of these individuals mentioned be related to you? Paddy Prendergest's memories of his beloved Mohill, Co. Leitrim, included Mummers Day, held the 26th of December, anticipated for weeks beforehand. Annie Booth (now deceased) and Sonny Creamer were both members of the local mummers group in the 1940s and 1950s. The early part of Mummers day was mostly devoted to small children going around the houses blowing into mouth-organs - the strains of "How much is that Doggy in the Window" and "On top of Old Smokey," wafting through the air. Large "batches" from other areas, as the groups of people were called, would come in later in the day including Paddy and Georgy Smullen from Aughadrumderg. With them would be Gathy Gannon who would have a cow's bladder tied to stick; if you tried to make fun of him, he would "chase" after you and woe to anyone who got a belt of the bladder! Hot on the heels of the Aughadrumderg group came the Treanmore batch led by Christy Reilly on the accordian, a few more on the tin whistle, guitars, and some! on the tambourine, or bodhran as it is now referred to. Paddy says it was a great occasion to see all the batches, not forgetting the Gortletteragh group led by Sonny Creamer, going around to all the houses playing and dancing. Paddy's uncle Sonny recalled the hooleys held in Rynn about a week after and the steps of Annie Booth a she danced on the flagstone floor. These were happy, simple times, with "quarter barrels and pans of Boxty." The joy of waking to the sound of horses hooves clattering, passing the terrace at about four in the morning was magic for the children. They knew instantly that Fossett's circus had arrived in Mohill. They had longed for the day ever since the bills were put all over town. A decision would have to be made whether to go to school that day or go down and maybe get a job helping put up the tent with the chance of a few tickets for the night's performance if you were successful.