For the second year in a row, Ireland was without its annual St Patrickâs Day parade, and yesterday lacked the costumes, floats and crowds of Patrickâs Days past. In Irish tradition, however, the celebration of St Patrick is not limited to March 17th, and stories of his many feats, journeys and teachings survive, both in …
The Joyful Spring
A speckled thrush upon a bush pours forth her matin hymn A new-born hope has in her woke; with her 'tis not a whim. Some wondrous thrills her bosom fills - what can she do but sing When back again o'er wood and plain has come the joyful Spring. TomĂĄs Ă Muircheartaigh holding a bird. …
Welcome, noble summer!
In Irish folk tradition, the calendar is principally split into âQuarter Daysâ, so called as they divide the year into each of its four seasons of autumn (Lammas / LĂșnasa), winter (Halloween / Samhain), spring (St. Brigidâs Day / Imbolc), and of course summer (May Day / Bealtaine), which falls on the 1st of May. In marking the transition …
Ireland’s Second Saint
This time last year our guest blogger Dr Elva Johnston looked at St Brigid's family history, her life in Ireland and her highly respected standing amongst the early Irish Church. This year the National Folklore Collection rummage in their archives and.....well read on to find out more! In Irish folk tradition, the calendar is principally …
