The weather certainly showed that Bealtaine was the start of summer and the return of light, with beautiful days and nights for the festival! This was the second of the Four Fires festival, organised by the Dolmens Climate Action Network. These festivals go back between 2,500-3000 years. Bealtaine falls midway between the spring equinox and the summer solstice and is directly opposite of Samhain, modern day Halloween.
‘Who would have thought we could all sit outside on a balmy Wednesday night around a fire and listen to the magical stories, some songs and a few poems from the Mourne Meitheal Storytellers? And then enjoying a circle dance as the sun set! It was a fabulous night and being the eve of 1st May, we had our own Bealtaine fire here at Turnip House, ’ Sean O’ Baoill said.
Archaeologically we know that the great hill of Uisneach, considered the mythological centre of Ireland was a major site for Bealtaine fire ceremonies, communal fires lit there to bless the land and the cattle.
On Friday 2nd May. Maggie Doyle, local author and poet, led the Bright Fire Creative Writing Workshop in Castlewellan Library. Maggie started the workshop with a beautiful reading about Castlewellan Forest Park, which she had written.
‘It was totally relaxing and really showed the power of words’ Sally Montgomery said. ‘We then enjoyed writing and sharing narratives and poems, which was fun if not a bit nerve wracking’.
The more energetic members got up very early on Saturday to listen to the Dawn Chorus at Bunkers Hill.
Mary McAnulty said ‘it was a lovely way to tune into the early May morning. ‘We were joined by Pól Mac Cana who identified the birds singing within the symphony of nature, including the trills of the wren, the melody of the song thrush, the chattering of the black cap and the cascading tune of the meadow pipit. It really was well worth getting up for! And we learnt to identify not only the call of the birds but their names in Irish.’
It was a true Bealtaine celebration, on Saturday afternoon, when Castlewellan Community Allotments finally opened the gates and sharing food, traditional music, fun and games and most importantly got hands into the soil, planting seeds and seedlings.
The final event involved a human musical symphony, led by Ciara Delany’s Bodysong. ‘On a blissfully sunny Sunday afternoon we walked to the winter garden in Castlewellan Forest Park, and enjoyed making harmonies’ said one of the singers. And added ‘We did get a few people listening as they walked by’.
Bealtaine is a festival of connection- mind and spirit, individual and community, and the land that we call home. Reconnecting with these ancient festivals can help us reconnect with old rhythms and these events bring us closer to nature and our own true beat.
‘We were delighted we had several new faces at these events, and we look forward to welcoming everyone to Lughnasadh, a harvest festival that celebrates the bountiful fruits of the land.’