County Mayo is home to vibrant folk customs, such as the climbing of Croagh Patrick, and the lighting of Midsummer bonfires on Saint John’s eve. A lesser-known branch of folklore also attested in Mayo consists of folk medicine. The project aims to highlight the rich folklore of folk medicine of County Mayo. Folk medicine includes cures performed by folk healers and self-administered cures. This project draws on the rich archives of the National Folklore Collection, complemented with fieldwork on contemporary practices. By focusing on the folk medicine of County Mayo, the project will shed light on the local geography, flora, fauna, and cultural practices, and simultaneously on universal traits of the human psyche.

 

Please note that the details of events listed above are provided by the relevant Local Authorities.