Medieval Irish calendar customs

Lorrha Dorrha Archaeological & Historical Society's next lecture will take place on February 20 at 8pm. Our guest speaker is Br Colmán Ó Clabaigh, and his presentation is entitled ‘Times, Dates and Seasons: The Year and Calendar Customs in Medieval Ireland’.

Medieval Irish calendar customs were profoundly agricultural, dividing the year into a light half (starting in May) and a dark half (starting in November), dictated by the seasons and nature. Key fire festivals—Samhain, Imbolc, Bealtaine, and Lughnasa—marked seasonal transitions, with festivals starting on the eve before. Later, these were blended with Christian liturgical, saint-focused holidays.

Br Colman spoke at our Medieval Conference last year. He is a monk of Glenstal Abbey and a medievalist specialising in the religious and monastic history of Ireland between the twelfth and the sixteenth centuries. He is the author and co-editor of several books and articles, including ‘The Friars in Ireland 1224–1540 (Dublin, 2012)’, and (with Rachel Moss) ‘Modest and Civil People: Religion and Society in Medieval Galway (Dublin, 2022)’.

Date: Friday, February 20. Time: 8pm. Venue: ‘The Shed’ at The Friar's Tavern, Lorrha, E45 V651. Entry: €5. No booking required.