Midsummer, or Saint John's Eve (Oiche Fheile Eoin) is a magical night in the traditions and folklore of Ireland and takes place in June.

Doonagore castle near Doolin, County Clare, Ireland

Traditionally at sunset on June 23^rd, an ancient fire festival began and this was known at Saint John’s Eve. We look at some of the traditions around this festival of merriment:

• A fire used to be lit exactly at sunset and had to be tended until long after midnight. Prayers were then said to bestow God’s Blessing on the crops and to prevent mid-summer flooding.
• Dancing, fun and music then started for both young and old and men competed in competitions of strength and agility.
• Fire jumping was customary and people jumped over the flames from side to side. Young men used to walk through the fields carrying lit torches and then cast them into the fire to protect the crops from harm.
• A special dish called ‘Goody’ was made. This was ‘shop bread’ which was soaked in hot milk and flavored with sugar and spices and passed around.
• Children would walk around the villages asking for ‘a penny for the bonfire’ and use the money to buy candy and cakes.
• The men of the village would pool their resources to buy a barrel of beer or porter which was shared all around.

Midsummer was a merry time in the history of Ireland and the celebrations continued well in to the following day!