barmbracks—cakes, traditionally served in Ireland on Halloween, in which symbolic objects (a ring, for example) have been baked.
Ballsbridge—a suburb southeast of Dublin.
the Pillar—Nelson’s Pillar; a memorial in north-central Dublin to Horatio Viscount Nelson (1758–1805), an English admiral. A comical anecdote told by Stephen Dedalus in Ulysses takes place atop the Pillar.
Whit-Monday—the Monday immediately following Whit-Sunday, or Pentecost.
the Dublin By Lamplight laundry—a Protestant-run business, the mission of which was to rescue prostitutes and drunken women; Maria merely works there, in the kitchen.
tracts on the walls—religious texts posted for the edification of readers.
sure to get the ring—likely to come upon the ring baked into the barmbrack, signifying that she will marry within a year.
a mass morning—a Holy Day of Obligation, on which all observant Catholics must attend Mass.
has a drop taken—has drunk alcohol.
Hallow Eve games—referring here to a game in which players are led blindfolded to a table where saucers have been arranged: One holds a prayerbook, one a ring, one some water, and the fourth some clay. If the blindfolded participant chooses the prayerbook, he or she is supposed to join the priesthood or become a nun within the year. If the ring is chosen, marriage is foretold. Water means a long life, while clay means death.
“I Dreamt That I Dwelt”—a popular aria from the opera The Bohemian Girl, which is also mentioned in “Eveline.” The song subtly connects this story with that one, perhaps implying that Eveline will likely end up like Maria.
her mistake—Maria has sung the song’s first verse twice in a row.
Balfe—Michael William Balfe; composer of The Bohemian Girl.
