School: Arklow (B.)
- Location:
- Arklow, Co. Wicklow
- Teacher: Gearóid Inglis
Archival Reference
The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0924, Page 38
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- XML “Customs - May Day”
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- On May Day (1st May) the people in the Fishery or lower part of town strew their door steps with all kinds of early Spring flowers.
The children are sent specially on the Eve of May to pluck flowers for this custom.
May bushes (ordinary furze) are brough from the fields on May Day. A tall pole is decorated with them, and set up. The children go from house to house collecting candles which are placed here and there on the lowest bush. Towards evening these candles are lighted and the children, (and up to twenty years ago the adults) dance for several hours round the May Pole.
A bonfire is made of the bushes at the end of the sport.
