Analysis: Kevin Danaher's book brought a wealth of information about Irish folklore to the attention of the general public
The news that The Year in Ireland is to be reprinted by Mercier Press to coincide with its 50th anniversary was greeted with delight by many. First published in 1974 and written by the late and renowned folklorist Kevin Danaher, The Year in Ireland describes the landmarks of the traditional folk calendar from Christmas to St Brighid's Day, Easter to May Day, Harvest to Halloween "along the chain of high days and feast days… feasting and merrymaking" and customs and beliefs of Ireland.
The Year In Ireland was a foundational text in bringing the study of Irish customs to the attention of the general public. The book offered a wealth of information gleaned from knowledge that Danaher had obtained from a lifetime devoted to the study of Irish folklife. It dealt not only with calendar landmarks, but described a set of old folk practices that ran alongside Christian beliefs, much of what the folklorist described was on the cusp of dying out completely from Irish life at the time of publication.
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From RTÉ Radio 1's Today With Claire Byrne, what are some of the folklore rites and rituals associated with the seasons in Ireland?
The Co Limerick born Danaher had a long and illustrious career in history and folklore research, one of the more well-known projects he had involvement in was the planning of Bunratty Folk Park, for example. He lectured in folklore in UCD, and researched and published papers in academic journals (many using his Irish name Caoimhín Ó Danachair). In a scholarly, in-depth approach, these covered topics such as vernacular house types, settlement and dwelling, social history and organisation, calendar customs, folklore research methods, distribution patterns in folklore, folk narratives, and beliefs as well as other approaches.
The Year in Ireland was not the only popular book that Danaher wrote on the topic of folklife. Some of his many other books included In Ireland Long Ago (1962), Gentle Places and Simple Things (1964), Irish Country People (1966), Folktales of the Irish Countryside (1967), The Pleasant Land of Ireland (1970), Ireland's Vernacular Architecture (1975) and That's How It Was (1984).
My favourite The Hearth and Stool and All! (1985) was a book about Irish rural houses which also explored furniture and interiors. The title was taken from the well-known Pádraic Colum poem An Old Woman of the Roads, told from a homeless woman's perspective. The topic had been the subject of a RTÉ programme of the same name, presented by Danaher, and was evidence of his talent as an excellent teacher.
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From RTÉ Archives, Hearth and Stool and All: Hearth and Household, Kevin Danaher's programme on the function of the kitchen hearth in Irish homes (broadcast 18 January 1967)
In an era before easy access to online archives, e-books and other resources, it was the popular books by Danaher and others such as Seán Ó Súilleabháin, E. Estyn Evans and Patrick Campbell that were non-academic sources that Irish folklore general readers relied on. These scholars publishing their work and making their research accessible to the general public were enormously important at a time when the topic was at risk of being forgotten. Certainly these, along with many other sources, were crucial to my own research in the area. The fact that authors like these made their works so accessible to a broad readership remains a major influence.
It was a time that saw great changes in Irish rural domestic life. The last connection to rural electrification took place in the 1960s and the cottage was being replaced with the bungalow by a new generation who had largely abandoned farming and the rural life that went with it. Many of those who remained on farms were on a quest for modernisation of Irish life: replacing thatch with slate and old furniture with new shop-bought pieces. Improvements in farming practices meant that customs that connected the old Irish calendar with agriculture were no longer needed. With electric light, superstitions and fear regarding piseogs and fairies were gradually extinguished.
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From RTÉ Brainstorm, the superstitions and mysteries around Ireland's 'fairy forts'
Many of my own generation was growing up in this era to parents who themselves had grown up living off the land on small farms. We were possibly the first in thousands of years not to have first-hand experience of agricultural life, beyond holidays to our grandparents’ houses.
To my parents’ generation, adopting the aspirational suburban life of job, car and Bungalow Bliss, many of the old superstitions and customs represented a step backward. When it came to folklore or folklife, this generation were not always forthcoming with explanations. Such questions yielded little from parents reluctant to divulge too much information or to bring their children back to a life they had left behind.
I imagined it was the embarrassment of the perceived primitive 'savagery’ of the old ways that were at odds with the modern lives they aspired to, and it seemed to be a common view amongst this generation. And who can blame them for wanting to improve their lives? Growing up in drafty, damp houses with no plumbing, heating, with outdoor toilets, and the endless toil of work on the farm to ensure survival did not equate to an easy way of living.
But in the haste to improve, many important folk practices and beliefs were lost along the way. At the same time, my parents couldn’t help but keep some traditions alive, though they only offered half answers as to what they were and why they practised them. It was up to authors like Danaher to fill in the gaps for curious readers like me.
The old Irish calendar, along with the associated customs, was once a way of life for many people. Passed down from generation to generation they helped to define Irish culture. When a custom is lost, it is a loss for everyone. Hopefully, the reprint of The Year in Ireland will lead to a wider interest in our folk customs, making them more accessible and perhaps even help to bring some of these traditions back to life.
The views expressed here are those of the author and do not represent or reflect the views of RTÉ
