Explore the varied and rich cultural heritage of county Mayo.

A curious forked spade formerly common in Mayo. This spade has its foot cut out of a single piece of wood to which a separate handle is attached.

The spade was very suitable for making ridges in loose sandy or boggy soils.

There are only two known original Mayo spades in existence. They are mentioned in the Royal Irish Antiquities in 1857 and Wakeman mentions them in 1894. Patrick Knight says people of Erris used them to drain the bog. These two spades in the Museum are copies.

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