Conway Mill Trust » Celebrations

Harvest Celebrations

admin — Wed, 29 Sep 2010 18:40:04 +0000

September 29 is Michaelmas or the Feast of St. Michael. This marked the “goose harvest” when geese hatched in the spring were ready for market. A goose was killed on this day and a portion given to the poor. On farms with orchards this was the proper time to pick the apples and make cider. Down was also plucked from live geese for pillows and mattresses.

In Traymore, Co. Wexford, the custom of “going to the sea” is over 200 years old when merchants from neighboring towns descended on Traymore selling their wares. The local merchants and townspeople would march to the sea with an effigy of St. Michael and throw it in the sea as a humorous hint to the saint that they were losing money. The hunting season also began on this day.
Source: The Year in Ireland by Kevin Danaher.

Red Head Contest

admin — Sun, 29 Aug 2010 18:12:38 +0000

The first ever Red Head Contest was held on August 25 in Crosshaven,
Co. Cork. Activities included carrot tossing and red head speed dating. Prizes were awarded for most freckles per square inch and best red eyebrows. John O’Malley from Blarney was named “King of the Red Heads.”

Puck Fair

admin — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 15:40:16 +0000

Every year in Killorglin, Co. Kerry a group of people go up into the mountains to catch a goat for the annual “Puck Fair.” A young girl from the 6th class is named “Queen” and she is the one who will crown the goat. The goat is put in a cage in the middle of the town, and this signifies the start of the merry making. There is a horse fair on the first day (August 10) and a cattle fair on the second (August 11) with singing, dancing, etc. continuing on into the night. There are amusement rides for the children and pubs are open until midnight.

There are several theories as to the origins, the most popular being that while Oliver Cromwell’s “Roundheads” were pillaging they routed a herd of goats that were grazing. The animals fled but the he-goat or “Puck” broke away and lost the herd. The other goats headed for the mountains but “Puck” went to Killorglin. His arrival in a semi-exhausted state alerted the townspeople of the danger, and they were able to protect themselves. In recognition of this the people decided to have a festival in his honor.

Actually, there is no written record stating when the fair started but a fair can be traced back to a charter from 1603 by King James granting legal status to a fair in Killorglin (before Oliver Cromwell).

It has also been linked to pre-Christian celebrations of a fruitful harvest, and the male goat was a pagan symbol of fertility, like the pagan god Pan.

Whatever the origins, the fun lasts for three days when the goat will be “crowned” and then released. Source: www.puckfair.ie

Irish Cultural Events – August

admin — Thu, 05 Aug 2010 12:52:10 +0000

August 6 – 15 — Kilkenny Arts Festival: music, art, literature and children’s events.

August 10 – 12 — Puck Fair, Killorgin, Co. Kerry: A group of people go into the mountains to catch a goat who is then brought to the town square and crowned at the end of the three days of merry making.

August 15 – 22 — The FLEADH CHEOIL NA hEIREANN, Cavan: Competitions and concerts of the best traditional music.

August 20 – 24 — Rose of Tralee Festival, Co. Kerry: “Roses” are chosen from the Irish diaspora around the world. The festival celebrates the modern young woman in terms of her Irish heritage, intellect, goals and that quality which is captured in the words of the song, “The Truth In Her Eyes.”

August 30 — Old Lamas Fair, Ballycastle, Co. Antrim: Ireland’s oldest market fair features entertainment, horse shows and local foods.

August Celebrations

admin — Sun, 01 Aug 2010 15:20:37 +0000

Lughnasa is the Irish word for August and since this was the beginning of the harvest season, it was a time to celebrate. Usually the first weekend of the month was set aside for gatherings. Games and sports were tried by the young men and the girls picked berries. “Pattern Days” were observed also. This was honoring a favorite saint by visiting a holy well or shrine, and the faithful would walk around the well or shrine while reciting prayers. The ritual also included drinking water from the holy well or washing an afflicted part of the body. A token, such as a coin, cloth or a medal was left. Superstitions about the weather also played a role during Lughnasa. If the mountain peak looked blue and distant, a good harvest was expected. If it appeared clear and close, the worst was feared. So offerings were left on the mountain as well as placing garlands of flowers on the largest pillar stone to ensure a good harvest.

Another ritual observed during August was bathing in the ocean on the feast of the Assumption (August 15). This was thought to be beneficial to the health. An added benefit was drinking three mouthfuls of water from the sea,which aided the digestive system. Source: Irish Culture and Customs

Lunasa(Lughnasa) – Garland Sunday

admin — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 15:35:27 +0000

Lunasa (Lughnasa) or Garland Sunday is also known as Fraughn Sunday. (A fraughn is a small berry which has ripened and people now enjoy the fruits they have gathered.) It is celebrated on the last Sunday in July (July 25) and marks the end of summer. It has been a place of pilgrimage since pagan times. It is also called Crom Dubh or the dark, crooked one who was the most feared of all the pagan gods.

On this day in July, pilgrims climb Croagh Patrick (2,533 feet) in Co. Mayo, many in their bare feet. Legend says St. Patrick prayed and fasted on the top of the mountain for forty days and forty nights. New potatoes are dug in the following week, and the incantation of “Death to the red-haired girl” is heard. The red-haired girl symbolizes ‘famine.’

“French Week” in Dublin

admin — Sat, 10 Jul 2010 15:15:44 +0000

The first ever “French Week” is being celebrated in Dublin July 13-18, appropriately around Bastille Day (July 14). The Irish and French have a long history of alliances. The French Revolution in 1789 was the spark that inspired the Irish to rebel in 1798. The Irish rebels were called “croppies” because their short hair resembled that of the French revolutionaries, and several times in Ireland’s history the French have attempted to come to the aid of those Irishmen fighting the British. This time they will be there with shops along the Liffey and French food to savor and perhaps some dancing by the Folies Bergere. http://www.alliance-francaise.ie