Celebrating “Bealtaine” in Ireland: Traditions, Ancestry, and a Sacred Site.

Céad Míle Fáilte – welcome to this week’s Letter from Ireland. I hope this finds you safe and well. Our weather in Ireland remains fine as we celebrate our May holiday weekend. How are things in your part of the world today? 

We have passed May 1st – which marks the official start of the summer season here in Ireland. More about that in a few minutes. I’m having a refreshing glass of our well water as I write. Do join me with a cup of whatever you fancy as we start into today’s letter.

In a few days time, we are heading up into the midlands of Ireland to walk along the banks of The Royal Canal for a special project that we are running in The Green Room. I look forward to sharing more on that venture in a future letter. Speaking of the midlands of Ireland, today’s letter is all about that less-touristy part of Ireland and its link with an ancient Celtic festival that marks the beginning of Summer.

Celebrating Bealtaine in Ireland: Traditions, Ancestry and a Sacred Site.

The opening of the summer season in Ireland is marked by a significant ancient Celtic festival called “Bealtaine”, in the Irish language (pronounced “Be-yowl-tanna). Bealtaine translates roughly as “bright fire”. It is known as a festival of fire – the fire in this case signifying the return of light to the land for the summer season.

Bealtaine is one of the four major seasonal festivals celebrated in the Celtic calendar. The others are Samhain (beginning of November), Imbolc (beginning of February) and Lughnasa (August). However, given that Ireland has been a pastoral land for thousands of years, marking the coming of the light of summer (Bealtaine) and the receding of the light for winter (Samhain) is very significant when it comes to tending a herd of animals.

Historically, Bealtaine was the time of year when the cattle were driven to summer pastures. Alongside this great movement of a people’s livelihood there was a set of rituals designed to safeguard the cattle, crops and people. So the tradition at this time of year was to light two bonfires and then drive the cattle between the two fires (that can’t have been easy!). Meanwhile all the house fires across the land were temporarily put out and relit from the local Bealtaine bonfires.

As you might expect, this ritual was accompanied by much feasting and celebrating. It seems that we’ve always loved the optimism of early summer.

A Fire of Hope and Optimism at the Centre of Ireland.

A few years back, Carina and myself travelled to County Westmeath for an Irish Homelands feature. We aimed to track down the places and surnames of one of our Green Room members. As well as looking for his ancestors with the following surnames: Martin, Doyle, Scally and Kenny (any of these in your family tree?) we took a trip to a very special place in the ancient Kingdom of Mide.  The place is called the “Hill of Uisneach” (pronounced “Ish-knock”). 

The Hill of Uisneach is located near the village of Ballymore in County Westmeath and occupies what many consider to be the centre of the island of Ireland. Today, it’s acknowledged as one of the most sacred and historic sites in the world. Although standing at only 600 feet above sea level, it is in the middle of Ireland’s central plain with a view across more than twelve counties. The Hill of Uisneach stood in the middle of the five provinces and became a place where national meetings were held and major agreements reached. In fact, before the Hill of Tara, Uisneach was the seat of the High Kings of Ireland.

The Hill of Uisneach held a special significance in celebrating the festival of Bealtaine. This central location on the island of Ireland was the ideal place for the first lighting of the fires of Bealtaine. The first fire was lit on the summit of Uisneach on the first dawn of the summer – and as it became visible across other nearby hilltop sites – each lit their fire in turn. And so, the darkness before dawn was brought to light, with the fires from the Hill of Uisneach slowly spreading around other hilltop sites across the island of Ireland. Their flames then made their way to the local bonfires we spoke of earlier and into the hearths of the each household. Shortly after, the first summer light came with the dawn.

When we visited the Hill of Uisneach – we lit our own “bonfire” at the summit of this ancient site. It was a candle to signify a connection of light, hope and optimism from us to all of our readers around the world. 

Bealtaine Blessings to you and your loved ones – may the Bealtaine light of hope and optimism come into the life of you and all of your family.

Slán for this week, 
Mike.

PS. Here are some photos of the area around Uisneach and those parts of Westmeath: