Knocknashee fun day out marks the Lughnasa festival
A FAMILY fun day with a nod to ancient times was held in Knocknashee last Sunday.
The south Sligo community gathered for the Knocknashee Lughnasa Festival. Families took part in traditional sports day activities, musical performances and climbing Knocknashee Hill as part of a fastest family competition.
Lughnasa is a Gaelic festival which celebrates the beginning of the harvest season in Ireland, Scotland and the Isle of Man with sporting events, music and hill climbing all being staples of this annual occasion.
It marked the ancient god Lugh's victory over the evil Crom Dubh and honoured Lugh's foster mother, Tailtiu, who is said to have cleared the plains of Ireland for agriculture.
Traditionally games at the Lughnasa festival would have included wrestling, archery, chariot racing and spear throwing but the community of AchonryMullinabreena improvised by substituting old cultural favourites for old school favourites such as the sack race, egg and spoon race, three-legged race, tug-of-war and horseshoe throwing among others. Music was provided by Martin Rooney and Harry and Shane McGowan.
Folklore associated with this time of year refers to an offering of the ‘First Fruits' as an important aspect of the Lughnasa festival and in consideration of this tradition each family received a fruit plant to take home with them.
The fastest family was declared to be the Flanagan family, who conquered Knocknashee in a time of six minutes and 30 seconds. The McGowan, Henry and Scanlon families all tied for second place with a time of six minutes and 45 seconds.