Comments on: Bonfire Night

By: myles

myles — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 22:27:06 +0000

I come from Tuair Mhic Eide in Mayo and we also had a very strong tradition
of bonfires on June 23rd , when as many neighbours as possible collected wood and mainly whin bushes (furze) and a huge fire would be lit in an open safe place. The more senior people would oversee the safety aspects. Prayers would be said in a well practised manner and ashes from the fire scattered on the crops ,sometimes bones along with the ashes were thrown into fields to encourage fertility and a full Harvest. I”m interested in any similar traditions in the South as i”m putting togather a Potato Festival along with other people in Kilbehenny.

myles

By: Colm

Colm — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 20:43:14 +0000

Its a mix between the summer solsice and St johns eve.Twas a pagan ritual and then it coincided with a christian holiday so the tradition lives on. Either way bonna nite is is great fun. Nothing like a roaring fire to get people in good spirits.

By: Sean

Sean — Tue, 06 Nov 2007 11:58:11 +0000

I am living in Leeds, England and yesterday they celebrated Guy Fawkes night. I know the history behind this occasion.

Given that I am a proud Irishman and also the fact that I do not know! I would like to know the reason why we celebrate bonfire night back home in Ireland. Can anyone tell me?

I am aware that we have bonfire night on the same date or for the same reason.

Sean.

By: Nicholle

Nicholle — Sun, 24 Jun 2007 15:51:27 +0000

Hmmmm…Bonfire night sounds really cool. Never been to one, at least not in Ireland (I am American by birth).

Sounds to me like a leftover from the days of Stonehenge!

By: Pillars of black smoke rise above the city at Holy Shmoly!

Pillars of black smoke rise above the city at Holy Shmoly! — Sun, 24 Jun 2007 10:03:41 +0000

[...] tires and sofas. Anyway, the good people over at PROC are discussing the night and reminded me that I had researched the origin of the night a while [...]

By: Sinead

Sinead — Sat, 23 Jun 2007 16:53:26 +0000

We were jusst talking about this at home. There are still bonfires held in Mayo although my Dublin friends have never even heard of this custom.

By: Robert

Robert — Fri, 22 Jun 2007 01:05:13 +0000

Here in Ennistymon we have always had a bonfire in the market square – but not this year,as the Clare County Council have resurfaced the area. It would be quite easy to provide a bed of sand to protect the tarmac, but no, nobody will do it because they are afraid of being held responsible for any injury claims.
So, a tradition is lost. If a colonial power were to do the same, we would resist. But of course I have never seen a “professional” person at a bonfire.

By: big billy

big billy — Mon, 10 Jul 2006 20:55:15 +0000

we always burn things on the 11th of july in the north, generally tyres and pallets so no nice aroma unfortunately

By: Anne

Anne — Mon, 26 Jun 2006 14:07:03 +0000

St John’s night and bonfire is celebrated on the east coast of Spain. This fiesta is celebrated on the beaches of the Alicante and Valencian coast. It is a family celebration and also related to the midsummer night. The fires can be seen all along the coast and are quiet spectacular.

By: Liam Nolan

Liam Nolan — Sat, 05 Nov 2005 11:01:21 +0000

I lived in Cork until 1960 and attended bonfire night every year as a boy.

We burned logs and turf mainly and the aroma of the burning turf always remained with me.

That is why I have now got a web site called Irish Incense.