beart

A boy from Turlough near Castlebar once gave me the following description of a beart: When oats is cut and tied in sheaves it is then made into bearts to dry and season. The beart consists of 20 sheaves. Ten sheaves are first placed standing against each other five on each side. Then three sheaves are placed in openings left by the other sheaves, to strengthen it. Then four head-sheaves are tied on top of the others to keep the under sheaves dry. The beart is left in the field for a week or ten days to season. It may be left out for two or three weeks as no rain affects it.