From Stephen at Irish Around The World – the home of Irish stories, quotes, jokes, and heritage shared across the globe.

🌼 Welcome to Bealtaine – The Fire Festival of May

May 1st in Ireland isn’t just another day on the calendar — it’s Lá Bealtaine, the ancient Celtic festival marking the beginning of summer. Long before Google calendars and weather apps, the Irish were lighting bonfires, blessing their cows, and hanging yellow flowers on doorsteps to protect against mischievous spirits.

Wait isn't it the 7th of May Stephen? Yes indeed! Bealtaine wasn’t just about May 1st anyway. In the old Celtic tradition, these festivals weren't single-day affairs — they marked the season, not just the date. The fires might have been lit on May Eve, but the spirit of Bealtaine carries right through the month of May.

Think of it like this:

🌸 Bealtaine starts on May 1st, but the celebrations — the fertility of the land, the warmer days, the sense of renewal — that all stretches into the coming weeks.

Even in modern pagan or Celtic circles, Bealtaine season can be marked right up to mid-May, especially around May 6th or 7th, when the natural signs (hawthorn blossom, warmer winds, longer evenings) are in full swing.

Bealtaine (BYAL-tin-eh) is all about life, light, and protection. Here’s how our ancestors celebrated:

• Bonfires: Lit on the hilltops to protect people and livestock from harm. In some places, cattle were driven between twin fires to ward off illness. (We don’t recommend doing this with your neighbour’s dog.)
• May Bushes: Small hawthorn trees were decorated with ribbons, shells, and even leftover eggshells to bring good luck.
• Yellow Flowers: People picked buttercups, primroses, and marigolds to place on windowsills and thresholds to keep away the sídhe — the fairies. Because in Ireland, if your milk soured or your cow went dry, the fairies probably did it.

🇮🇪 Irish Language Corner – May Sayings to Make You Sound Like a Local

Sprinkle these into your day and watch the respect roll in:

• Bealtaine – May
• Lá Bealtaine – May Day
• Tá an ghrian ag scoilteadh na gcloch! – The sun is splitting the stones! (aka “It's actually not raining today!”)
• Go mbeire muid beo ar an am seo arís. – May we be alive this time next year. A classic Irish toast.

📜 Poetry of the Month – From the Soul of 9th Century Ireland

Here’s a stunning early Irish poem — anonymous, raw, and beautiful. Written over 1,000 years ago, and still ringing true today.

“Mayday, Delightful Time” – Anonymous (9th century)

Mayday, delightful time!

How beautiful the colour!

The blackbird sings a full lay,

The deer sleep;

The cattle roam in the fields.

Bees with their little strength

Gather abundant harvest.

The strong birds are singing

A joyful chorus

On the hilltops of the world.

The soft white bog-down

Expands in the valley plain;

Delightful is the season’s splendour

Rough winter has gone, white is every forest.

A joyful peace is summer,

The sadness of bad weather is past;

The cuckoo sings a beautiful chant

From the top of every bush.

It’s not about battles or saints. It’s just about noticing the world — the bees, the birds, the breeze. The kind of thing we could all do with a little more of, don’t you think?

😂 Irish Jokes – A Bit of May Mischief

Because no weekly dose is complete without a bit of laughter:

🍺 The Everlasting Beer Mug

An Irishman is walking along the beach and finds a bottle. He rubs it, and out comes a genie who agrees to grant him three wishes.

The Irishman says, "I've been walking on this beach all day. I'm thirsty. I wish I had a mug of beer that never ends." Poof, a frosty mug appears in his hand. He drinks it down, and it magically refills.

After a few rounds, the genie, growing impatient, asks, "Have you decided on your other two wishes?"

The Irishman, swaying slightly, looks at the mug and says, "Yes, I'll have two more of these."

👂Mick says to Paddy:

"I’ve just bought a new hearing aid. It’s state-of-the-art!"

Paddy says: "Really? What kind is it?"

Mick: "About quarter past eleven."

🧠 Did You Know? – May Facts from the Emerald Isle

• In ancient Ireland, May was one of four major festivals: Imbolc (Feb), Bealtaine (May), Lughnasadh (Aug), and Samhain (Nov). Two for light, two for darkness.
• The word Bealtaine comes from the Old Irish Beltene meaning “bright fire” – a nod to the bonfires lit in honour of the sun god.
• Muckross Abbey in Killarney has a yew tree that blooms every May – it’s over 600 years old, and fair play to it.

🗞️ In the Irish News – May 2025

• Met Éireann Predicts a Warm Spell: Suns out, freckles out. Temperatures are hitting 20°C — practically a heatwave here.
• The Eurovision Craic Continues: Ireland’s entry has a chance this year (so we say every year). But hey, at least the costume has sequins.
• Hurling is Heating Up: The GAA championship is back in full swing – if you’ve never seen someone score a point from 90 yards with a stick and pure rage, now’s the time.

🌍 From Irish Around The World – This Week’s Highlights

As always, we’re keeping the Irish connection alive no matter where you are — whether you’re in Toronto, Sydney, Galway, or sitting in your kitchen with a bag of Taytos and a dream.

🔥 Top Picks from Irish Around The World

🗒️ Irish Poem: “The Workmans Friend” – By Flann O’Brien(A Pint Of Plain)

A pint of plain is a beer and if there was ever a poem that poetically put a beer as essential it would be this one.

This poem comes in …

The post Irish Poem: “The Workmans Friend” – By Flann O’Brien(A Pint Of Plain) appeared first on Irish Around The World.

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🗒️ 11 Famous Irish Actors: From Liam Neeson To Cillian Murphy 🍿

I love seeing an Irish actor in a box office success like Oppenheimer.

And there are so many famous Irish actors that I felt it would be best to list …

The post 11 Famous Irish Actors: From Liam Neeson To Cillian Murphy 🍿 appeared first on Irish Around The World.

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🗒️ What the Heck is a Selkie? 🦭Unveiling The Mysteries Of Selkie Mythology

Have you ever stood on a windswept Irish cliff, gazing out at the endless sea, and felt a story brewing in the air around you?

Well, you’re not alone.

And …

The post What the Heck is a Selkie?

🦭Unveiling The Mysteries Of Selkie Mythology appeared first on Irish Around The World.

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🗒️ Tommy Tiernan on Irish Accents and A&E Chaos – Pure Comedy Gold

There’s no one quite like Tommy Tiernan when it comes to tapping into the madness of Irish life — and this clip proves it.

In “Accent and Emergency”, Tommy dives …

The post Tommy Tiernan on Irish Accents and A&E Chaos – Pure Comedy Gold appeared first on Irish Around The World.

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🍵 Final Thought – Take May Slow

The world moves fast. But May in Ireland always says: slow down. The birds are singing. The fields are stretching. The faeries are watching. You’ve got time. So have the tea, ring your mammy, and take it all in.

Until next week,

Slán agus beannacht,

Stephen ☘️

Irish Around The World

Keeping the Irish spirit alive, one brilliant email at a time.