Irish Festivals & Traditions
There are lots of different kinds of festivals in Ireland every year. Very often there is a parade and lots of music.
Saint Bridget's Day (Lá Fhéile Bríde)
Saint Patrick's Day (Lá 'le Pádraig)
Saint Patrick's Day is celebrated on the 17th of March. Patrick is the patron saint of Ireland. Click on the picture to learn more about St. Patrick.
Saint Patrick's Day is celebrated on the 17th of March. Patrick is the patron saint of Ireland. Click on the picture to learn more about St. Patrick.
Some people wear green clothes on St. Patrick's Day. They also wear some shamrock on their coats. You often see the Irish flag flown on St. Patrick's Day.
All around the country you can see parades. The best parade in Ireland is in Dublin. Click on the photograph to see a video of the parade. http://www.stpatricksday.ie/ |
Seachtain na Gaeilge
Féile na Bealtaine
Long, long ago it marked the beginning of summer. The cattle was driven out to the mountains for the summer so that the grass around the homes would have a chance to grow. This way the cattle had fresh grass to eat for the winter.
Bonfires were lit because the smoke, flames and ashes were supposed to protect the cattle, people and crops. People jumped over the bonfires. Sometimes cattle were walked between two bonfires.
The main bonfire was lit on the Hill of Uisneach which was the traditional centre of Ireland.
http://feilenabealtaine.ie/home/
http://uisneach.ie/
Bonfires were lit because the smoke, flames and ashes were supposed to protect the cattle, people and crops. People jumped over the bonfires. Sometimes cattle were walked between two bonfires.
The main bonfire was lit on the Hill of Uisneach which was the traditional centre of Ireland.
http://feilenabealtaine.ie/home/
http://uisneach.ie/
International Pan Celtic Festival
The International Pan Celtic Festival is during the Easter Holidays every year. It brings together people from all the Celtic nations: Ireland, Scotland, Wales, the Isle of Man, Brittany and Cornwall, to celebrate together their unique music, dance, language and culture. http://www.panceltic.ie/ |
The Early Music Festival
The Early Music Festival takes place in May every year. There is a great atmosphere around the city as musicians and actors in medieval dress wander around the city. There are also workshops for adults and children. http://www.galwayearlymusic.com |
Fleadh na gCuach
Volvo Ocean Race
Belfast Maritime Festival
This festival happens in June each year. You can see people people dressed up in costumes.
This festival happens in June each year. You can see people people dressed up in costumes.
Féile Ros Muc, Féile an Dóilín & Crinniú na mBád
There are a lot of festivals in Co. Galway which celebrate the traditional boats of the area. These festivals take place from May to September.
Now of course the roads are much better. There are other ways to transport people and goods so the boats are no longer needed. However, in order to keep the traditions alive competitions are run each year from May to September.
The Salthill Festival
The Galway Arts Festival
The Galway Arts Festival takes place in July every year. These are some of the pictures from the parade. https://www.giaf.ie/ |
Click the videos below to watch some of the street performances that are on as part of the festival:
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Sunflower Fest
This is a great festival for families. You can go to interactive art events, storytelling events and dance & music workshops.
www.sunflowerfest.co.uk |
The Puck Fair
The Puck Fair is Ireland's oldest fair. It is over 400 years old. The story goes that while English soldiers were pillaging the countryside at the foot of the McGillycuddy Reeks they scattered a herd of goats which were grazing on the high ground. In the confusion the puck goat (he-goat) got separated from the rest of the herd and he ended up in Killorglin. The bedraggled goat ran through the town terrified. The inhabitants of the town took this as a warning that something was wrong and made preparations to protect themselves.
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From then on a festival has been held in the middle of August each year to honour the goat. http://puckfair.ie/
Féile an Phobail
Féile an Phobail is held in August. You can go to concerts, art exhibitions, children’s events, sports events, etc. www.feilebelfast.com |
Belfast Hills Heritage Festival
This festival takes place in August. You can learn about the folklore associated with the area. Walks and wildlife hunts are organised. www.belfasthills.org
This festival takes place in August. You can learn about the folklore associated with the area. Walks and wildlife hunts are organised. www.belfasthills.org
East Side Arts Festival
This festival is also held in August. There are music events, movies, workshops, exhibitions and events for children. www.eastsidearts.net |
Belfast Mela
The Mela is a festival which celebrates music, dance, food, fashion and cuisine from many different cultures. www.belfastmela.org.uk. |
Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann
The Fleadh takes place at the end of August every year. There are schools of music during the week and at the weekend there are music competitions. You can hear music and see dancers all week. http://www.fleadhcheoil.ie/ |
Here are examples of Irish dancing and music:
This is set dancing. Lots of people gather to dance set dances. Click on the video to see some set dancing:
Click on the link below to see some of Riverdance, a show based on Irish dancing, which was first performed as an interval act at the Eurovision:
Riverdance influenced a lot of other shows which came afterwards. Modern as well as traditional steps were used. |
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Irish music is very popular all over the world. You can see music being played in lots of different places. Many children learn to play a musical instrument.
There are many instruments such as the mandolin zither and traditional harp that are rarely played now. Here are some of the most popular instruments used to play traditional music now. Not all the instruments are traditional but can commonly be seen.
Here are some excellent musicians, Niamh Ní Charra and her band, playing some traditional music:
Here are some other groups playing some traditional music. One group starts with lilting.
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Bluegrass Music Festival
This festival is held at the Ulster American Folk Park in Omagh. Bluegrass musicians from Europe and North America play at this festival. www.nmni.com |
Babaró International Arts Festival for Children
Baboró brings the best of International and Irish artists and performers to Galway City. www.babaro.ie
Baboró brings the best of International and Irish artists and performers to Galway City. www.babaro.ie
Children's Book Festival
Children get the chance to meet different authors in libraries around the country. http://www.childrensbooksireland.ie/ |
Hallowe'en (Oíche Shamhna)
Hallowe'en (Oíche Shamhna) is on the last day of October. In the past the first day of November was called All Hallow's Day. The night before was called All Hallow's Eve. This has been shortened over time to Hallowe'en.
Hallowe'en (Oíche Shamhna) is on the last day of October. In the past the first day of November was called All Hallow's Day. The night before was called All Hallow's Eve. This has been shortened over time to Hallowe'en.
The original Celtic feast was called Samhain, Feast of the Dead, and it was celebrated on the last day of the Celtic year. In Celtic times people believed that on that night the souls of the dead wandered through the land. On this night people dressed up in old clothes to hide from the evil spirits. The fairies (sí) were also about. The fairies had to be appeased so they were given gifts to keep them happy. The fairies in Ireland were called The Good People (Na Daoine Maithe) and were usually benevolent. However, if they were angered the consequences were serious. Bonfires were lit to keep evil at bay.
Many old Hallowe'en customs still survive. Children still get dressed and wear masks. They go from house to house singing, playing music and saying poems so that they can get treats and money. There are lots of Hallowe'en games which children play during the night. In one game the children must stick their heads into a basin of water and try to get money out with their teeth. There is a similar game where the children must try to grab a bobbing apple with their teeth.
In another game the children must try to take a bite out of an apple which is hanging from the ceiling. They cannot touch the apple with their hands.
There is another game which tells you your fortune. Saucers are put on the table: a ring in the first one, water in the second, money into the third, a rag in the fourth. The person is blindfolded and they are turned around. They must choose a saucer. If they choose the ring they will be married within the year, if they choose water they are going on a voyage across the sea, if they choose the money they will be rich, if they choose the rag they will be poor.
There are now lots of Hallowe'en events on around the country. There are parades in Galway, Derry and in Trim.