Imbolc Festival explained

Imbolc Festival 2019

Imbolc Festival marks the beginning of Spring. It is one of the four Celtic seasonal festivals. The others are Bealtane, Lughnasadh and Samhain. The Imbolc Festival was revived by the Slieve Bloom Association in 2013. There are many customs associated with Imbolc festival. The custom associated with the Slieve Bloom Mountains is the milking of the goat.

Some of the crowd that attended Slieve Bloom Association’s Imbolc Festival 2015 – photo, Kathleen Culliton

On the 3rd of February at the Bracket Stones you will hear old stories about the area and the traditions of the Celtic Festival of Imbolc. At this family friendly event you will have the opportunity to watch or take part in the ancient Imbolc Festival of the milking of the goat on Spink Hill and maybe churn the milk. Afterwards, the new Imbolc Goat will be crowned, adorned with ribbons and garlands. The saying, “Put silk on a goat and it is still a goat” does not apply here because in this instance it becomes the Slieve Bloom Imbolc Goat for 2019.

Text Credit Slieve Bloom Association