With the May Gaelic festival of Beltane nearly upon us, it seems appropriate that we are planning a long week trip on the bikes in May. Our trip will probably take in approximately 1,000 miles down to Kilkenny then across to the iconic Ring of Kerry and up the Wild Atlantic Way in a clockwise direction to Sligo before cutting east through Fermanagh home. I genuinely cannot wait for this trip; to drive Ireland's most famous roads and to see some of her most famous sites. I will be completing a comprehensive write-up after we have returned and also hope to take some outstanding footage.
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| Beltany Stone Circle (Donegal) |
Beltane (Lá Bealtaine) was one of four Gaelic seasonal festivals (along with Samhain in October / November, Imbolc in February and Lughnasadh in August). Beltane lies between the Vernal Equinox and Summer Solstice and marked the beginning of the pastoral season when livestock were put out to pasture. Traditionally fires were lit along with feasting and offerings to the Aos Sí (or Sídhe / Síth) a supernatural race comparable to fairies and elves. In the Book of Leinster the Aos Sí are said to live underground in fairy mounds, across the western sea, or in an invisible world that coexists with the world of humans in which the Aos Sí walk amongst the living. In Irish Aos Sí means 'people of the mounds' (these mounds are known in Irish as 'sídhe').
In Ó Duinnín's Irish dictionary (1904), Beltane is referred to as Céadamh(ain) which it explains is short for Céad-shamh(ain) meaning 'first (of) summer'. The dictionary also states that Dia Céadamhan is May Day and Mí Céadamhan is the month of May. It is, presumably, no coincidence that the stone circle in Donegal is named 'Beltany', itself a derivative of Beltane; I can only infer that this stone circle was connected to this Gaelic pagan festival. In Armagh there isTamnaghvelton from the Irish Tamhnach Bhealtaine which means the 'Beltane Field') and Lisbalting from the Irish Lios Bealtaine in Tipperary which means the Beltane Fort.
It seems we are heading away at an auspicious time of year.....bring it on!!
