May Bush Féile celebrations take root in Wexford with plenty of traditional music, song and poetry
Local performers Anne Mulhall, Helena Dunbar, Pat Fitzpatrick, Mick Doyle and CCÉ Craobh Chaoimhin Naofa took to the stage at Christ Church in Gorey recently. Special guests on the night included; Mark Redmond, Éire Ní Fhaoláin and Chulainn Ó Faoláin.
Speaking after the community concert, organiser Rachel Uí Fhaoláin said: 'It was brilliant, an absolutely fantastic community event. It was lovely because the residents from Oakfield Nursing Home came out and joined us. They were so delighted to be involved. We collaborated with them last year on the Gorey May Bush Féile as well, so they came to the concert and really enjoyed it'.
The celebrations didn't end there as the entire community was also invited to be involved in the tradition of decorating eggshells for their May Bush.
1st, 2nd and 3rd place prizes were awarded for the best decorated eggshells, which people hung on their own May Bush at home, at school, or on the communal Gorey May Bush on May Eve.
Others joined the group at Gorey Library for the May Bush Decorating & Traditional Song Workshop for families where singer and folklore collector Rachel Uí Fhaoláin led the workshop.
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Irish Independent
20-05-2025
- Irish Independent
May Bush Féile celebrations take root in Wexford with plenty of traditional music, song and poetry
Local performers Anne Mulhall, Helena Dunbar, Pat Fitzpatrick, Mick Doyle and CCÉ Craobh Chaoimhin Naofa took to the stage at Christ Church in Gorey recently. Special guests on the night included; Mark Redmond, Éire Ní Fhaoláin and Chulainn Ó Faoláin. Speaking after the community concert, organiser Rachel Uí Fhaoláin said: 'It was brilliant, an absolutely fantastic community event. It was lovely because the residents from Oakfield Nursing Home came out and joined us. They were so delighted to be involved. We collaborated with them last year on the Gorey May Bush Féile as well, so they came to the concert and really enjoyed it'. The celebrations didn't end there as the entire community was also invited to be involved in the tradition of decorating eggshells for their May Bush. 1st, 2nd and 3rd place prizes were awarded for the best decorated eggshells, which people hung on their own May Bush at home, at school, or on the communal Gorey May Bush on May Eve. Others joined the group at Gorey Library for the May Bush Decorating & Traditional Song Workshop for families where singer and folklore collector Rachel Uí Fhaoláin led the workshop.
Irish Independent
13-05-2025
- Irish Independent
Wexford nursing home receives top award
Nursing Homes Ireland (NHI) and Age & Opportunity are teaming up again this year to celebrate National Arts in Nursing Homes Day, taking place on Friday, May 16, as part of the 30th anniversary of the Bealtaine Festival. Now in its fifth year, this special partnership highlights and celebrates the vibrant creativity, artistic expression, and storytelling traditions flourishing within nursing homes and care settings across Ireland. Homes and day centres nationwide are planning events to showcase the wonderful creative work of their residents and members. Tadhg Daly, CEO of Nursing Homes Ireland, said: "We are extremely proud to partner with Age & Opportunity in supporting National Arts in Nursing Homes Day. This important initiative reminds us of the deep creativity, storytelling and artistic expression that lives within our nursing homes. Across the country, residents and staff are embracing the day with enthusiasm, showcasing the vibrant communities that thrive within them." Mr Daly also paid special tribute to Oakfield Nursing Home in Wexford, which has been awarded one of the National Arts in Nursing Homes Day Awards for 2025. Oakfield Nursing Home has collaborated with renowned community artist Rachel Uí Fhaoláin to develop a unique traditional song and folklore project focusing on St. Brigid and the local wells dedicated to Ireland's patroness saint. Oakfield Nursing Home has been recognised for its special collaboration with community artist Rachel Uí Fhaoláin on a traditional song and folklore project centred on St. Brigid and the local wells dedicated to Ireland's patroness saint. Through a series of traditional song and folklore workshops, residents are working with Rachel to develop a new cultural collection of stories, songs, prayers and social history, culminating in a community participatory event on 16 May. "Oakfield Nursing Home's collaboration with Rachel Uí Fhaoláin is a wonderful example of the creativity and cultural richness that nursing home residents contribute to wider community life," said Mr Daly. "Their work preserves vital traditions while giving residents an active, meaningful role in cultural storytelling and knowledge transfer across generations." Dr Tara Byrne, Arts Programme Manager at Age & Opportunity, added: "We are so delighted to congratulate Rachel Uí Fhaoláin and Oakfield Nursing Home on winning one of our National Arts in Nursing Homes Day awards for their special folklore project and event on 16th May. On the 30th anniversary of Bealtaine, and in our fifth year of running this important initiative with our partner Nursing Homes Ireland, we are confident that more residents of nursing homes like Oakfield are engaging in enjoyable arts activities that give both themselves and the staff of those settings a greater sense of purpose and meaning."
Irish Independent
11-05-2025
- Irish Independent
Wexford school revive old May Bush tradition at special community event
An old village tradition was revived at the school on the afternoon of May 2, as the school held a May Bush ceremony to mark the start of the summer. In accordance with the tradition, the first decorations were put up on May 1 (May Day), but the school held the ceremony the following day to coincide with Kilanerin National School's garden club and the mid-term break. More than 50 people turned up to celebrate including schoolchildren, the school band, local residents and people from across Wexford, Wicklow, Dublin and overseas. Niamh Clarke of Kilanerin Tidy Towns was one of the leaders of the event alongside the school's garden club volunteers and Principal Mary Byrne. Kilanerin Tidy Towns thanked the students for their involvement and for helping decorate and playing music. They also gave a special mention to their 'May King' and 'May Queen' as well as Maureen Bushe, who remembers a May Bush Féile from her youth in Ballyfuff around 90 years ago.
