Bonfire Night (St. John’s Eve)
By Michael Hussey | Photo Michael Hussey ( YoughalOnline.com)
Bonfire Night ‘The Plot’ Sarsfield Tce. Youghal (1983)
Bonfire Night is an annual celebration held on the 23rd June (St. John’s Eve). The celebrations take place in towns and villages across the country and centered around the summer solstice. The custom dates back to pagan times. Bonfire Night was always celebrated in Youghal with bonfires in different parts of the town but these customs and traditions are largely ignored nowadays. The embers of this long tradition have become a burning or more accurately a non-burning issue. The photograph shows everybody enjoying the annual spectacle of the bonfire in the plot Sarsfield Terrace back in 1983.
Related Stories
If you enjoyed this post, please consider to leave a comment or subscribe to the feed and get future articles delivered to your feed reader.
Michael, what a magnificent photo! It certainly brings back memories of a time when different areas of the town vied with one another to see who could make the biggest Bonfire. There were even occasions when one area raided the pile gathered by the opposition a night or two before the 23rd. Needless to say this caused an all out counter raid and occasionally ended in fisty cuffs.
Before restrictions there used to be a great Bonfire right in the middle of the road going up Sarsfield Terrace not far from your house. It was important to pick a spot where there were no wires overhead. My father Andrew Cronin used to bring out the accordian and play on these occasions and people would sing along. The Bonfire was never lit until the “Pictures” were over.
Another great spot for a Bonfire was Murphy’s Row and I can also remember having a good time at Bonfires on the Mall near the Lifeboat House. Someone used to collect money and go up to Lombards for sweets and lemonade and give the children a treat.
Before Dunnes Park,( Land that was donated to the town by a kind benefactor) was sold to Youghal Carpets ,there was a massive bofire there every year. We used to bring our children over to see it and to join in the usual fun and games that went on.
Your photo has taken me on a trip down memory lane. Thanks for the memory.