Bonfire night

Itssoeasy · 21-06-2011 09:21PM #1

Twas brought up on ray foley today and apparently Mayo is a hotbed for it on the 23rd of June. Dublin Louth and Tipperary it appears fo not be a big thing. So which counties is it big in and when isn't it ?

Tis big in cork.

OutlawPete · 21-06-2011 09:22PM

I'm in the future.

policarp · 21-06-2011 09:23PM

Halloween is it not?

FatherLen · 21-06-2011 09:25PM

the leprechaun told me to burn things.

i havent seen a bonfire in dublin other than on halloween.

1000th

conlufc · 21-06-2011 09:25PM

ye bonefires night is a great night in mayo..even better when you've just finished your leavin:D

mikemac · 21-06-2011 09:26PM

I'd never even heard of this

A quick wiki check

St John's Eve (or Oiche Fheile Eoin) is celebrated in many parts of Ireland with the lighting of bonfires.
This ancient custom has its roots in pre-Christian Irish society when the Celts honored the Goddess Áine, the Celtic equivalent of Venus and Aphrodite. She was the Goddess Queen of Munster and Christianised rituals in her honour (as Naomh Áine) took place until the nineteenth century on Knockainy, (Cnoc Áine – the Hill of Áine) in County Limerick.

During the festival, people would say prayers, asking for God's blessing upon their crops. They would also take ashes from the fire, and spread them over their land as a blessing for protection for their crops. It was also common to have music, singing, dancing, and games during the festival. The fire was used for destroying small objects of piety (rosary beads, statues, etc.) without disrespecting God. It was also common for people to jump through the flames of the bonfire for good luck.

Sounds religious, the heathens on boards won't have anything to do with it

Are you doing the last part conlufc?

starbelgrade · 21-06-2011 09:26PM

Ray Foley - proving how pointless radio shows can be, every Monday to Friday 12 - 2.30pm.

jam_mac_jam · 21-06-2011 09:27PM

aw you country folk, how quaint.

FatherLen · 21-06-2011 09:30PM

mikemac wrote: »

I'd never even heard of this

A quick wiki check

Sounds religious, the heathens on boards won't have anything to do with it

Are you doing the last part conlufc?

RELIGION THREAD!!!!!!

i am outta here!

conlufc · 21-06-2011 09:30PM

mikemac wrote: »

I'd never even heard of this

A quick wiki check

Sounds religious, the heathens on boards won't have anything to do with it

Are you doing the last part conlufc?

aw ya every year:D
mind you them burn marks didnt bring me much luck:P

Knight who says Meh · 21-06-2011 09:32PM

jam_mac_jam wrote: »

aw you country folk, how quaint.

Country folk as opposed to what? Folk from what passes for large town in other countries?

Duckworth_Luas · 21-06-2011 09:32PM

Itssoeasy wrote: »

Twas brought up on ray foley today and apparently Mayo is a hotbed for it on the 23rd of June. Dublin Louth and Tipperary it appears fo not be a big thing. So which counties is it big in and when isn't it ?

Tis big in cork.

Second biggest night of the year for kids in Galway and Roscommon, after Christmas Eve!

recyclebin · 21-06-2011 09:39PM

Let's burn the bondholders this bonfire night.

The King of Moo · 21-06-2011 09:42PM

I may be mistaken, but as far as I know it's Halloween in the cities (was here in Galway city) and midsummer in many rural areas. It's a remnant of Bealtaine, the summer fire festival (they still have a big shindig full of crusties in Edinburgh in the summer, with lots of fire eaters and such), they used to pass animals through it to ensure good harvest and milk and meat and such. And if they didn't survive you'd at least get a nice few steaks out of it.

Zebra3 · 21-06-2011 09:45PM

Burning stuff.

Wow! :rolleyes:

robman60 · 21-06-2011 09:47PM

It's true to say it's pretty big here in Mayo. Where I live, almost every estate has a bonfire, varying in size. It has always been a night I've looked forward to, and this year promises to be no different. Many people utilize it as an opportunity to burn rubbish illegally, however, so that makes up many of the bonfires.

Also, the slagging of country folk here is inappropriate, it isn't reserved to country areas at all, and those who don't have it are missing out I think.

Duckworth_Luas · 21-06-2011 09:48PM

The King of Moo wrote: »

I may be mistaken, but as far as I know it's Halloween in the cities (was here in Galway city) and midsummer in many rural areas. It's a remnant of Bealtaine, the summer fire festival (they still have a big shindig full of crusties in Edinburgh in the summer, with lots of fire eaters and such), they used to pass animals through it to ensure good harvest and milk and meat and such. And if they didn't survive you'd at least get a nice few steaks out of it.

Bonfires at Halloween is a recent urban thing. Where I grew up we had loads of Halloween traditions, bonfires was certainly not one of them.

Ally Dick · 21-06-2011 09:51PM

Do people in the West light bonfires to celebrate a wedding ? I was at a wedding in Tuam once and was driving to the reception in Ballinasloe. There were people lighting fires and waving at the wedding procession. Never saw that before anywhere else

Duckworth_Luas · 21-06-2011 09:53PM

Ally Dick wrote: »

Do people in the West light bonfires to celebrate a wedding ? I was at a wedding in Tuam once and was driving to the reception in Ballinasloe. There were people lighting fires and waving at the wedding procession. Never saw that before anywhere else

Yes, people light small bonfires along the route taken by the couple from the church to the reception.

Another tradition is for people to light fires for returning victorious GAA teams.

It's only when you live away from Connacht you realise how brilliant a place to live it is!

si_guru · 21-06-2011 09:53PM

Duckworth_Luas wrote: »

Bonfires at Halloween is a recent urban thing. Where I grew up we had loads of Halloween traditions, bonfires was certainly not one of them.

I am guessing but maybe this stemmed from the UK having bonfires on November 5th.

whatswhat · 21-06-2011 09:57PM

starbelgrade wrote: »

Ray Foley - proving how pointless radio shows can be, every Monday to Friday 12 - 2.30pm.

Totally agree. The man is up his own ass!

The King of Moo · 21-06-2011 09:58PM

Duckworth_Luas wrote: »

Bonfires at Halloween is a recent urban thing. Where I grew up we had loads of Halloween traditions, bonfires was certainly not one of them.

Like games? My mother would always try to get us to play games like bobbing for apples or this one where you've got a mound of flower with a peanut on top and you had to cut off a "slice" off flour without knocking the peanut. I think she hated us being near the bonfire and wanted to keep us away from it!

The King of Moo · 21-06-2011 09:59PM

si_guru wrote: »

I am guessing but maybe this stemmed from the UK having bonfires on November 5th.

I think that's it, as there's no real logical connection between bonfires and Halloween.

whatswhat · 21-06-2011 09:59PM

si_guru wrote: »

I am guessing but maybe this stemmed from the UK having bonfires on November 5th.

Least they wait till it gets dark.

Ally Dick · 21-06-2011 10:00PM

Duckworth_Luas wrote: »

Yes, people light small bonfires along the route taken by the couple from the church to the reception.

Is that why they have stone walls ? Are they afraid they'd set the hedges on fire ?

Duckworth_Luas · 21-06-2011 10:02PM

The King of Moo wrote: »

Like games? My mother would always try to get us to play games like bobbing for apples or this one where you've got a mound of flower with a peanut on top and you had to cut off a "slice" off flour without knocking the peanut. I think she hated us being near the bonfire and wanted to keep us away from it!

The games originated from superstitious people being afraid to go out on that night. People stayed in doors and the games kept the children occupied.

Young men however had no such fears. The result was that teenage boys had free reign to cause havoc unhindered. When these traditions traveled to America people would bribe boys with treats, hence trick-or-treat, which was itself imported into Ireland via TV.

The King of Moo · 21-06-2011 10:05PM

Duckworth_Luas wrote: »

The games originated from superstitious people being afraid to go out on that night. People stayed in doors and the games kept the children occupied.

Young men however had no such fears. The result was that teenage boys had free reign to cause havoc unhindered. When these traditions traveled to America people would bribe boys with treats, hence trick-or-treat, which was itself imported into Ireland via TV.

We kept the tradition of causing havoc, just restricted to the bonfire and how big/explosive we could make it. I'll never forget throwing in that can of oil

Duckworth_Luas · 21-06-2011 10:12PM

The King of Moo wrote: »

We kept the tradition of causing havoc, just restricted to the bonfire and how big/explosive we could make it. I'll never forget throwing in that can of oil

On 23rd of June, the real Bonfire Night, every crossroads would have a bonfire, all organised by the local boys. Rivalries would break out between different groups as to who was building the biggest. Fires would be attacked, torn down, attempted to be set alight before the date and even stolen.

We stole an entire fire one time and added it to our own. Victory was sweet.

Blisterman · 21-06-2011 10:55PM

From Dublin, and I've never head of this before.

Show Time · 21-06-2011 10:57PM

It is a big excuse to go on the lash and burn rubbish down here, Many a happy Bonna night i had in my youth.

Joe10000 · 21-06-2011 11:02PM

Have attended such nights in Mayo and there is some bye law that permits the burning of rubbish on the night, mostly lads and dads and lots of cans.

A bit like Halloween without the monkey nuts.

Bonfire night

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