They Came, They Saw, They Conkered
Have you ever played conkers? It is a game played with chestnuts, which your parents and even your grandparents probably played when they were young. It was especially popular in Cork, where they even developed unique customs for playing the game.
Before you can play conkers, the first thing you need is a good, strong chestnut. Then you make a hole through it with a nail.
Next you thread a string through the hole and and tie a knot, so that the chestnut is tied to the end of the piece of string. Now you're ready to get smashing!
Two players are needed. One holds his piece of string out with the chestnut dangling at the end. The other swings his chestnut, aiming for his friend's one. The aim is to smash the opponent's chestnut.
You have seven shots in a row to try and break your friend's chestnut. Whoever manages to smash the other's chestnut first wins.
Cork Lingo
In Cork, the chestnut used to play conkers was called a 'chessie'. The strings to which the chestnuts were attached often became entangled. When this happened, they were known as 'tanglers'.
In some areas of Cork, when the strings became entangled, the child who had been holding the chestnut could cry out, 'Tanglers six and I bags one!'. He then had seven free shots at his opponent's chestnut. The chestnut that succeeded in smashing the other was declared to be the 'conker'.
Some children would place their chestnuts in chimneys, where they were seasoned or hardened by the smoke. These chestnuts were known as 'seasoners' and were disallowed in some areas of the city.