May Bush tradition continues in Laois

A Rosenallis man has been doing his bit to pass the old traditions down along the generations. 

Dan Lynch of Capard, Rosenallis, has been putting up a May Bush for over 40 years.

He was joined this year by his granddaughters Lexi and Síomha.

The May Bush is traditionally decorated every year with painted egg shells and ribbons in a bid to keep the Pisheogs(fairies) away.  

The old rural tradition which was widely practised in Ireland was also believed to improve the harvest.

The National Museum of Ireland says the May Bush was a decorated bush, which in rural areas was left outside the house. In towns, it was erected in a communal place.

Clodagh Doyle is a Curator at the Irish Folklife Division of the museum.

"Sometimes it was carried about the area by groups of adults although later this custom was carried out by children.

"Geographically, the tradition was strongest in Leinster and the Midlands, stretching west to Galway and northwards to south Ulster and Donegal.

"The bush was often of hawthorn. The decoration usually consisted of ribbons, cloth streamers and perhaps tinsel.

"Sometimes the leftover coloured eggshells painted for Easter Sunday were used as decorations. On occasions, candles were attached to it," she wrote.

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