Peelers and arranged marriages

@JudyEv (341719)
Rockingham, Australia
June 5, 2024 7:46am CST
I’ve been reading a book by Peig Sayers. It’s her autobiography, entitled 'Peig', and translated into English from Gaelic by Bryan MacMahon. Peig was born in 1873. She was born on the Dingle Peninsula but spent forty years on barren Great Blasket Island. She was a great traditional storyteller and died in 1953. Life was very hard and survival itself was a triumph. What interested me was that some marriages in that area were ‘arranged’. Peig’s brother, whom she adored, brought home a likely young suitor and, rather than go back into service, Peig took her brother’s advice and married the young man within a few days. Seven weddings were held on the same day. I was guessing at the meaning of the word ‘peelers’ which occurs pretty often in the book. It was the regional name for the police of the time, so named after Sir Robert Peel, who at the time was Home Secretary. This uniformed organisation was founded in 1829 under the direction of Peel. The view is from Connor Pass on the way to Dingle. Can you see the white stone walls way down below?
16 people like this
15 responses
@LadyDuck (471968)
• Switzerland
5 Jun
I never heard the term Peelers used for the police, I think every place has specific words for the police. In France they call the female agents of the traffic police "Aubergine", because of the colour of their uniform and the round top hat, like the top of an eggplant. I can see the white stone walls in the photo.
2 people like this
@LadyDuck (471968)
• Switzerland
5 Jun
@JudyEv I knew about "bobbies" in England, in Milan those similar to the British bobbies are called "I Ghisa" all black and with that high hat they look like an "old stove".
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@JudyEv (341719)
• Rockingham, Australia
5 Jun
I meant to add that they are called 'bobbies' in England and mostly 'cops' or 'coppers' here.
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@JudyEv (341719)
• Rockingham, Australia
6 Jun
@LadyDuck One day I must research how bobbies got their name. I think I've read about it before but I've forgotten.
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@jobelbojel (35987)
• Philippines
6 Jun
I have not heard of peelers. Sounds like a good book to read. The photo is majestic. I like looking at photos like this.
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@jobelbojel (35987)
• Philippines
6 Jun
@JudyEv I love nature scenery
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@JudyEv (341719)
• Rockingham, Australia
6 Jun
I'm glad you like the photo. It is a rough, one-lane road at the point.
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@allknowing (137552)
• India
6 Jun
The police are called cops here
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@JudyEv (341719)
• Rockingham, Australia
6 Jun
I guess that's a hangover from British rule perhaps.
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@rebelann (112959)
• El Paso, Texas
5 Jun
Kool shot. I see an area that looks similar to the big or little dipper, is that where the white walls are?
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@rebelann (112959)
• El Paso, Texas
5 Jun
Ahhhhaaaa, not far from the 'dipper' shape I saw
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@JudyEv (341719)
• Rockingham, Australia
5 Jun
The walls show up best in the sunlit spot lower left.
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@wolfgirl569 (107859)
• Marion, Ohio
5 Jun
When you mentioned the walls I could find them
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@wolfgirl569 (107859)
• Marion, Ohio
5 Jun
@JudyEv Looking at the picture without knowing it could just be the land
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@JudyEv (341719)
• Rockingham, Australia
5 Jun
You don't realise you are so high up. Photos don't always give the perspective very well.
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@just4him (317250)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
5 Jun
It sounds like an interesting book.
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@JudyEv (341719)
• Rockingham, Australia
5 Jun
It was a life totally different from that of many of us.
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@just4him (317250)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
7 Jun
@JudyEv It sounds like it.
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@patgalca (18390)
• Orangeville, Ontario
6 Jun
If often wished that my father had found possible suitors for me. He had tons of friends. Surely some of them had to have a son around my age. I haven't made the greatest choices myself.
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@JudyEv (341719)
• Rockingham, Australia
6 Jun
From what we saw in Nepal, it isn't always a bad thing. We didn't know about many outcomes I guess but one lass we knew who hung out for her own choice lived to regret it.
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@snowy22315 (181948)
• United States
5 Jun
Yes, I see them How did it go? The marriage I mean.
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@JudyEv (341719)
• Rockingham, Australia
5 Jun
I haven't finished the book but she is very happy with the situation at the moment.
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@xFiacre (13120)
• Ireland
5 Jun
@judyev Goodness, I just watched a TV series on the Islands of Ireland in which Peig and her book were mentioned. We still call them peelers.
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@JudyEv (341719)
• Rockingham, Australia
6 Jun
How 'bout that? I've never heard the term before. She was a great exponent and believer in the Irish language.
• United States
5 Jun
Yes I can see the white stone walls in the picture. That sounds like a very interesting book. It's interesting that the police would be called Peelers. I guess arranged marriages were more common back in those days.
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@JudyEv (341719)
• Rockingham, Australia
6 Jun
I always thought they happened just in India and its neighbours. This book was talking about times long past of course.
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@sallypup (61563)
• Centralia, Washington
5 Jun
Fascinating. The gaelic language is very beautiful. My hubby was studying it at one time.
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@JudyEv (341719)
• Rockingham, Australia
6 Jun
My son knows some words and is trying to become more acquainted with it as he lives there now.
@LindaOHio (181177)
• United States
5 Jun
I can see the white walls. I've never heard the term Peelers. Have a good day.
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@JudyEv (341719)
• Rockingham, Australia
6 Jun
It was a new word for me too.
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@arunima25 (87855)
• Bangalore, India
6 Jun
Arranged marriages are still prevalent here in our culture. Well, that's the first time I have heard 'peeler' being used for police. Intersting! I assumed it to be something like vegetable peeler . I can spot those white stone walls. It's a gorgeous picture .
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@JudyEv (341719)
• Rockingham, Australia
6 Jun
I was quite a way into the story before I began to think peelers were police.
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@Beestring (14672)
• Hong Kong
5 Jun
That should be an interesting read.
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@JudyEv (341719)
• Rockingham, Australia
5 Jun
I'm enjoying it so far.
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@RebeccasFarm (90295)
• Arvada, Colorado
5 Jun
Gosh I love this beautiful view Judy!!
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@JudyEv (341719)
• Rockingham, Australia
5 Jun
That was quite a road up over the Pass. Parts were one lane only so you had to watch carefully for traffic coming the other way.
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