School Librarian, Summer 2004

Reflecting on the fact that the Irish form our largest immigrant group, we might also reflect that not much seems to have been done about it in the way of Irish studies in school.

There are exceptions and this attractive calendar of seasonal celebrations is one of them. It is from a series that includes Christian and Islamic festivals, also a collective guide to multicultural special days. Many suggestions made with Irish intent could be used widely and with an appropriate age range in school, welcomed as contributions with sensitive regard for religious and historical concerns. Ulster Scots contribute as well as Republicans.

The author reminds us that only .within the last fifty years did the rural west of Ireland get electricity. Changing so quickly, something can get lost on the way, so that new approaches have to be found within the context of our lives and conditions today. It is easy to picture the November Lantern festival in Co. Clare, with its marching children bound for forest and lake: not so easy to translate it to Coventry. Yet such festivals create a sense of belonging and must not be lost.

Here, looking for an explanation of Samhain (Hallowe'en, All Saints, All Souls) we shall not find it in an index but, beginning with the wheel of the Celtic year, its festivals are presented in sequence and with added seasonal meaning the reader finds his place within the wheel.

This is a teacher's book; difficult problems and situations are dealt with in relevant terms - the explanatory illustrations and presentation are noteworthy and the abundance and variety of creative opening outstanding.

Dorothy Atkinson

THIS IS ONE of those books you wonder how you ever managed to live without. Full of creative ways to celebrate not only the festivals that revolve around the Celtic calendar, but also Christmas, Epiphany, Easter, and even Pentecost, Celebrating Irish Festivals explores innovative ways to create meaningful seasonal rituals.

Ruth Marshall, teacher, storyteller, mother, and poet, has gathered a wealth of material into a careful and entertaining guide. Marshall first introduces each festival with its origin and traditions, and then places the festival in a fresh modern context. She includes recipes for special foods (Hot Cross Buns for Good Friday, Bread Bogha Bríde for Saint Brigid's Day), and suggests ideas for creating a festival table (everything from Advent Gardens to Easter Branches).

Marshall also offers games and activities (conveniently listed by appropriate school age in an appendix), songs both in Irish and English, and stories such as the druid Conchobar's battle with an oak tree upon hearing of Christ's crucifixion.

This book is delightfully illustrated by Judith Evans making all the art activities and games easy-to-follow. The necessary materials are readily at hand, and with a little imagination, you may find yourself designating a special table, shelf or corner to reflect your own festival crafts.

Celebrating Irish Festivals is a wonderful resource for families and school teachers, as well as those who wish to further not only their understanding, but also their participation in Celtic and Christian festivals.
Included also are ways to celebrate various Irish saints, such as Saints Brigid, Martin, Stephen, and, of course, Patrick.

As the author writes, 'many of us have artificial rhythms imposed on us by the work we do. We can find that celebrating the festivals, the turning points of the year, can restore us to a sense of connection with the greater whole'. This book provides the means for us to step toward that connection to nature, ourselves, each other, and ultimately God.

Catherine Ann Lombard
Giove, Italy

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Ireland's Own, Summer 2003

IRELAND IS famous for celebrating festivals, whether Christian or the ancient Celtic variety such as Samhain and Lughnasa. But according to Ruth Marshall from Co. Clare in her new book Celebrating Irish Festivals - A calendar of seasonal celebrations, Ireland could be losing its special festive touch under the impact of commercialism and rapid change.

Ruth wrote this book in response to questions from Irish returnees who needed a reminder of their culture, visitors wanting to know more, as well as parent, teachers and others asking for a source book for festive inspiration.

Celebrating festivals with children brings a sense of rhythm, belonging and meaning to the seasons; marking festivals offers food for the soul. This book presents a rich treasury of stories, beautiful illustration by Judith Evans, poems, traditions, food, games, activities and songs, with easy-to- follow instructions.

If you are interested in Irish traditions, or need a family or school resource, then here is a comprehensive calendar of festivals that children will cherish. Church holy days, agricultural festivals and Celtic saints days are all included.

Author Ruth Marshall and illustrator Judith Evans both live in Co Clare.

Ireland's Own, Summer 2003

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THE LAST SUNDAY in July is known by many names in different parts of Ireland, but most of them bear some connection to the festival of Lughnasadh, which marks the start of the harvest and the beginning of the end of summer.

Garland Sunday historically saw wild-flower garlands made and worn by young girls, but they were also used to decorate holy wells and stone circles, including the stone circle at Lough Gur, in Co. Limerick.

Tomorrow is also known in some areas as 'Height Sunday' when the highest hills or mountains are climbed, sometimes barefoot, including Mount Brandon, in Co. Kerry.

You could also celebrate Fraughan Sunday tomorrow, when people search high land for fraughan, or bilberries. Traditionally, this was a time for courting and boys would pick bilberries for their sweethearts, who would then bake a cake for sharing at a dance that evening.

Domhnach Crom Dubh is another term for tomorrow's festival. Crom Dubh, the 'dark, crooked one' brought the secrets of cultivation to Ireland and in his honour, the first corn of harvest was buried on a high place.

Probably the best known of the Lughnasadh festivals surviving today is Lammas, from 'loaf mass' and the Auld Lammas Fair is still going strong in Ballycastle, Co. Antrim, where the ripening of the grain is celebrated.

If you want to try some festive food, raspberry or blackcurrant jams are widely made, but if you can get your hands on bilberries, try making a fraughan fool.
FRAUGHAN FOOL
Two cups fraughans (bilberries)
Caster sugar to taste
One cup whipped cream
To make: Crush the berries with a potato masher and sweeten to taste with sugar. Fold in the whipped cream and serve in small dishes.

Lughnasadh, of course, is just one of the many festivals, both celebrated and forgotten, to be featured in this fascinating book by Co. Clare-based folklore collector Ruth Marshall.

It's a calendar of seasonal celebrations with something to make, do, sing or eat for almost every week in the year. There are also stories connected to the seasonal events and illustrations by artist and puppeteer Judith Evans, who also lives in Co. Clare.

We have already got good use out of it at home and there are ideas suitable for children of any age.

Pet O'Connell

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