Conway Mill Trust

It is bad luck to open a new calendar before the old year is out.

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Originally on St. Stephen’s Day (December 26) young boys would go from house to house, with a dead wren tied to a pole, singing songs. The legend states that the wren betrayed St. Stephen by making noise when the saint was in hiding.

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A lighted candle is always placed in the window as a welcome to the Holy Family and to strangers. It is usually lit by the youngest child and extinguished by a girl named ‘Mary.’

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In the Celtic language, ‘mistletoe’ means ‘all-heal.’ It was believed to have miraculous powers such as healing disease, bringing good luck and doing away with bad.

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Holly growing in the wild shelters small animals. The Irish custom of decorating with holly goes back to pre-Christian times when the people believed that it sheltered the ‘good people’ and if they brought it into their homes it would bring the ‘good people’ out of the cold and good luck to the family.

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The ‘grogach’ is a small, hairy half-human half-fairy creature who attaches itself to a family, helping with the chores. He asks only for a bowl of milk as payment. He resembles a little old man and is found in the north of Ireland, usually Co. Antrim. A ‘banshee’ is a female ancestral spirit who warns members […]

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Lunasa (Lughnasa) or Garland Sunday is also known as Fraughn Sunday. (A fraughn is a small berry which has ripened and people now enjoy the fruits they have gathered.) It is celebrated on the last Sunday in July and marks the end of summer. It is also called Crom Dubh or the dark, crooked one […]

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The “bite of friendship” refers to the offering of hospitality.  In medieval times, visitors to an Irish castle took bread and salt before entering as a token of trust….(proof that their host wasn’t trying to poison them).  The custom of dipping bread into salt is still used as a sign of friendship and welcome.

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June 21 marks the Summer Solstice, the longest day of the year.  The Celts did not use a calendar, but their year was circular marked at the quarters and cross quarters by seasonal festivities. They would mark the Summer Solstice with bonfires which they would leap over to promote fertility and health. They would toss […]

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On June 10, 1904 James Joyce was walking Nassau Street in Dublin when a pretty young lady (Nora Barnacle) caught his eye. He found out where she lived and made a date with her. On June 16 they went walking at Irishtown, Ringsend and a few months later they eloped to the continent. He celebrated […]

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