Article Category: Funereal Friday

McCarthy’s Irish Wake

Posted Friday, Jun 05

“A Bully Good Fellow Was He”

This photo depicts a “typical” Irish wake, although perhaps embellished for entertainment value — these stereoview images are collectibles from the late 1800’s.

Far from somber, traditional Irish wakes included merrymaking as a major part of the grieving process. Frowned upon by the Catholic church, storytelling, mischief-making, and games were all part of the send-off in these pagan rituals intended to ease the suffering of the bereaved family. 

Lewd songs, pranks, and games with names like “Priest of the Parish” and “Hide the Gulley” were commonplace at wakes up until the mid-1900s. 

Even contests of strength, which included lifting the corpse, were common.

Another prank often played was hiding under the corpse’s bed and shaking it when someone walked in, scaring the living daylights out of them

These activities and their pagan origins were severely frowned upon by the church, who tried to stamp out the custom. Official action was only taken, however, when a wake turned particularly scandalous.

An Irish wake began when neighborhood women came to the house and washed the body of the deceased. More often than not, the wake was held in the deceased’s own home or in that of a close relative. The corpse was then covered in white linen and adorned with black or white ribbons.

Custom dictated that crying could not begin until after the body was prepared, for fear that evil spirits would be attracted to the body and would take the soul of the deceased.

Female keeners were often hired by the family, and they wailed and cried and recited poetry, lamenting the loss of the loved one. The principal mourner stood at the head of the bed striking the first note or wail.

Within the house itself there were also many traditions that had to be adhered to. 

These customs included the laying of clay pipes, tobacco, and snuff in the room. Every male caller was expected to take at least a puff. The smoke kept evil spirits from finding the deceased. Usually, a pipe and tobacco were placed on a table next to the body. On some occasions, a pipe was also laid on the deceased’s chest.

Clocks were stopped at the time of death and the mirrors in the house were turned around or covered. All of the curtains in the house were also to be drawn but for the one window closest to the body which would be left open.

circa 1897, Photo by W.H. Rea

Other Recent Articles

Issue 40 Available Now!

Issue 40 Available Now!

Southern Calls Issue 40 begins with an interesting dive into the dual careers of Jack Lechner and his lifetime of service, both military and funeral. Our Places article continues the theme of service with Powles Staton Funeral Home and their Veterans Honor Guard...

read more
Issue 39 Available Now!

Issue 39 Available Now!

Southern Calls Issue 39 brings you stories from across the country with a brilliant, young Tennessee professional navigating career changes with ease; an historic and classically beautiful California funeral home and gardens that serves the Asian and Hispanic...

read more
After Life Mortuary Services

After Life Mortuary Services

The year is 1961. The Soviet Union has just successfully put Yuri Gagarin into space—and brought him home again. The Soviets are winning the space race. President John F. Kennedy immediately begins exploring ideas to re-take the lead, settling on reaching the moon....

read more
Snyder Funeral Homes

Snyder Funeral Homes

More than 100 years ago, Ora O. Snyder worked as a horse keeper for undertaking establishments. Known as Orrie to friends and colleagues, his early exposure to funeral service consisted of accompanying the local undertaker into the family home instead of waiting...

read more
Mitchell’s Journey

Mitchell’s Journey

I drove by your building a hundred thousand times and never once noticed it. Why would I? Death is what happens to other people. And when you have young children, mortality is the last thing on your mind. Instead, we're focused on young life and the promise of a...

read more
Issue 38 Available Now!

Issue 38 Available Now!

Featuring our exclusive article with the staff from Hillcrest Memorial Funeral Home on the tragedy at Robb Elementary in Uvalde, Texas, Southern Calls Issue 38 brings you the details from a funeral director's perspective. And, as always, our December issue of Southern...

read more

Join Our Newsletter

Sign up for our email newsletter to periodically receive article updates, industry news, and details about new issues before they are released.

The Magazine