News Release
Lughnasa Festivities at Craggaunowen, Co. Clare
Re-enactors dressed in ancient Celtic costumes will take part in a special ‘Lughnasa’ Festival celebration being organised by Shannon Heritage for visitors to their Craggaunowen visitor attraction near Quin in Co. Clare over the August bank holiday weekend. The ancient pagan festival of ‘Lughnasa’ is being celebrated in style by Shannon Heritage on Sunday 2nd and bank holiday Monday 3rd August from 11.00 am to 5.00 pm each day. 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.
‘Lughnasa’, honoured the Celtic god Lugh of the Tuatha de Danann, god of arts and crafts, and ushered in the harvest season. Lughnasa 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 will give visitors a unique glimpse of what living conditions were like for Celtic families living in a Crannóg from costume, demonstrating and discussing aspects of Bronze Age technology and lifestyle. 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. A newly built metalworking hut in the Ringfort will be used for blacksmithing throughout the weekend.
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.
A programme of events has been organised and visitors will be notified of the time and location of these events at the Craggaunowen admissions building. The emphasis will be value for money and family tickets for 2 adults and 2 children are €21.50, 2 adults and 4 children €22.50, and 2 adults and 6 children €23.75.
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Nandi O’Sullivan
Senior Press Officer
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