Pagan Festival to be celebrated at Craggaunowen, Co. Clare
The ancient pagan festival of ‘Lughnasadh’ is being celebrated by Shannon Heritage this August bank holiday weekend at the tourism company’s Craggaunowen visitor attraction near Quin in Co. Clare. The event will be staged by Mogh Roith Historical Re-enactment Society whose members are from Limerick and Clare. The group have many years of experience as historical interpreters and living historians.
Eighteen costumed re-enactors from Mogh Roith and several children in period costume will re-enact the ‘Lughnasadh’ Festival celebrations on Sunday 3rd & Monday 4th August 2008 from 11.00 am to 5.00 pm each day.
“Lughnasadh”, honoured the Celtic god Lugh of the Tuatha de Danann, god of arts and crafts, and ushered in the harvest season. Lughnasadh is a petition to the divine for a successful harvest, and it marks the first day of autumn, and thus the start of the harvest season. Lugh dedicated the festival to his foster mother Tailtiu. Tailtiu, the last queen of the Fir Bolg, died of exhaustion after clearing a huge expanse of forest for the planting and cultivation of crops. At the end of the summer harvest, a festival of games and skills were held in honour of Tailtiu.
As well as several showcase events at specific times during the days, the Festival will have four ongoing displays at Craggaunowen visitor attraction over the weekend, demonstrating various aspects of Ireland's history and heritage, from different time periods with showcase events such as a Brehon Law Trial and a hand-to-hand combat demonstration.
Among this feast of time travel will be a fascinating Bronze Age cooking demonstration at the Fulacht Fiadh, an ancient outdoor cooking site. Members of the Mogh Roith group will give visitors a unique glimpse of what living conditions were like for Celtic families living in a Crannóg. Visitor will learn about everything from costume and lifestyle to aspects of Bronze Age technology and weaponry. Also on show will be a range of replica Bronze Age clothing, artefacts, weapons and jewellery, for the public to inspect, and even try on for photo opportunities.
An Iron Age display will also be a feature of the weekend. This will be staged at the Crannóg and will cover the La Tene period of Irish Archaeology, when Celtic art, religion and language first entered the country. As well as a range of weapons and tools, the costumed re-enactors will demonstrate period musical instruments, stone-carving, cooking, weaving and dyeing of wool.
Described as Ireland's Golden Age the Early Christian period will also be brought to life for visitors. The action will be based around the Ringfort at Craggaunowen where a range of aspects of life from 8th Century Ireland will be demonstrated, including ancient hurling and board games, textile production, bread making, weapons and manuscript illustration.
The Medieval period will be recreated at 15th century Craggaunowen Castle through demonstrations of tapestry, spinning and embroidery, and will offer the braver visitors a chance to explore the weapons and armour of the Anglo-Norman and native Gaelic warriors and soldiers who once inhabited Craggaunowen castle.
Shannon Heritage has a great value family ticket available at Craggaunowen of €22.65 for 2 adults and up to 6 children. Visitors will be notified of the time and location of all Lughnasadh festival events on arrival at the Craggaunowen admissions building. For further enquiries about the event at Craggaunowen please call Shannon Heritage at Tel: 061-360788, or visit www.shannonheritage.com
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Nandi O’Sullivan
Senior Press Officer
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