Wexford all set for May Bush Festival

THE countdown is almost over for Ballindaggin duo Aileen Lambert and Michael Fortune of folklore.ie as they present their second annual ‘Wexford May Bush Festival’ which gets underway this weekend.

The festival encourages families and communities to erect a May Bush in their area, a tradition which was once common in every village in the county. For the next two weekends, the duo will present a series of talks and workshops on May Folklore and Customs in libraries in Gorey, Bunclody, Wexford and New Ross in a bid to keep these customs alive.

This year they received support from the Arts Department of Wexford County Council under the ‘Small Arts Festival Scheme’ and they plan on making this May a month to remember. For those who aren’t familiar, the May Bush is traditionally erected on the Eve of May Day and decorated with ribbons, seasonal flowers and painted egg shells.

The bush used in Wexford was traditionally a whitethorn, or a ‘skeagh’ as it is known locally, which was cut down and stuck up in a prominent place; a cross roads, outside your home or in many cases the dung heap on the farm. This particular tradition also travelled with migrants from the South East of Ireland and is still found in parts of Newfoundland to this day.

If this has peaked your interest, you can go along to any of the four events where Aileen and Michael will present a talk on May folklore and demonstrate what you need to erect a May bush in your own home, town or village.

This Saturday, April 21, the duo will be at Wexford Library from 11 a.m. to 12.30 p.m. and New Ross Library from 2.30 p.m. to 4 p.m. On Saturday, April 28, they will be in Gorey Library from 11 a.m. to 12.30 p.m. and Bunclody Library from 2.30 p.m. to 4 p.m.

If you would like to find out more or watch some May related folklore on film please visit www.folklore.ie or phone Michael/Aileen on 087 6470247/087 7552593