Wexford May Bush traditions feature on new RTÉ series
Wexford faces and voices featured in the third episode of the RTÉ series Na Féilte Tine over the May bank holiday weekend. The four-part series Na Féilte Tine (The Fire Festivals) and it explores the four indigenous Irish festivals of Samhain, Imbolg, Bealtaine and Lúnasa in Ireland.
One of Ireland's leading folklorists, Wexford's Michael Fortune, features in the series and he brought the RTÉ cameras to his native county in a bid to get our particular traditions and customs recognised. Michael was recorded in the TG4 studios in Connemara in early 2023 and a few months later, on May Eve (April 30), he brought the film crew to Wexford to record Marie Coleman from Curragraigue, Ballindaggin and Willie Phayers of Ballyigeen, Boolavogue and also record the decoration of the village May Bush in Ballindaggin.
Marie Coleman, a neighbour of Michael's, kept the tradition of the May Bush going in her family farm over her lifetime and the crew spent hours recording herself and her grandchildren and neighbours dressing up the May Bush in her yard. Sadly Marie passed in August, just a few months after this was filmed and the programme producer, Ciaran O'Cofaigh, dedicated this episode to her in the credits.
Also featured in the episode was a man called Willie Phayers from Ballyigeen from outside Ferns. Michael introduced the producers to Willie where he spoke about the practice of blessing cattle on May Eve with Easter water. The highlight of the piece was seeing the village May Bush in Ballindaggin being decorated and dressed by the local community.
Michael and his wife, Aileen Lambert, re-established the May Bush tradition back into the village in 2017 and every year it has grown in popularity with the community. The film crew did the event justice as it captured gorgeous footage of the May procession featuring St Colman's Pipe Band and St Kevin's Marching Band, the May Queens and King from Ballindaggin National School, and people coming together, decorating the May Bush and marking the coming of Summer. The programme also featured a May song written by Aileen called Good Morrow Fair Yarrow which was the perfect backdrop to the faces and voices of Wexford in the episode.
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