School: Sliabh na Lice, Sráid na Cathrach

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1. The Pattern (Patron) - Garland Sunday

   

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   In this district patterns are held each year. One is held on the last Sunday in July in Lahinch and on the second last Sunday of same month one is held on Mount Callan. These festivities had their origin in pagan days. They originated in Mount Callan. On the top of the mountain there is a lawn called 'Buaile na Gréine.' On this lawn is supposed to have stood 'Altóir na Gréine.' On this altar sacrifices were offered to Pagan Gods the most important being the Sun hence 'Buaile na Gréine', 'Altóir na Gréine' etc. Some modern scholars however object and state that this lawn got its name from the fact that from the rising of the sun to its setting its rays fell on this summit. On the introduction of Christianity the practice of going to the mountain continued though for a very different reason. In Christian times the people of the surrounding district went to Mount Callan on three different occasions during the year. They went there on Easter Sunday, Patrick's Day and Lammas Sunday. On Easter Sunday all went there to make their Druachais [?] Cásga, or feast of Easter eggs; oatmeal bread and new Easter Ale or Poteen; to hold their easter conversations on the topics of the day and to open the sports of the season with a chorus of bagpipes and a mcnlla [?] dance. On Patrick's Day all went there to drink their 'Pota Pádraig.' Lammas Sunday the first Sunday of the month of August was a great day on 'Buaile na Gréine.' Lammas Sunday was also called 'Domhnach Crom Dubh' and later was anglicised 'Garland Sunday'

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   Topics

   1. ócáidí
      1. ócáidí (de réir trátha bliana) (~11,476)

   Languages

   Irish

   English

   Informant

   Antoine Ó Conmhuigh

   Gender

   Male

   Age

   70

   Address

   Ballynew, Co. an Chláir