Here is How the Celts Celebrated the Coming of Summer (#817)

In the month of May, we celebrate the coming of summer here in Ireland. The month of May is called “Bealtaine” in the Irish language, which is also the Irish name for the celtic festival that marks the turning of spring to summer in early May.

In this episode we celebrate Bealtaine by sharing some of our stories and travels that look a little closer at this festival and time of year. We travel to a place in the centre of Ireland where Bealtaine is celebrated in a very special way.

We also feature three pieces of music – all in the Irish language – and the thing they have in common? They are all the same song!

“Thugamar féin an samhradh linn” is the name of the song and means “we’ll bring the summer with us” or, you might say “happiness will follow us wherever we go”. It’s an old Irish language song that goes back to at least the 1600s and is probably much older. It is very much associated with the month of May. The three versions featured here are all very different interpretations and I hope you enjoy them and that they give you a feeling of the warmth and joy of Bealtaine. Enjoy!

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Music Featured in This Episode:

• “Thugamar féin an samhradh linn” – performed by John Spillane.

• “Samradh, Samhradh (Thugamar féin an samhradh linn)” – performed by The Gloaming.

• “Thugamar féin an samhradh linn” – performed by Nóirín Ní Riain.

The Letter from Ireland Show is a weekly podcast that goes out each Thursday from our cottage in County Cork. Tune in to this episode – and dive straight in to a bit of Irish caint, ceóil agus craic (conversation, music and craic!).

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Slán for now, Mike and Carina.