Lúnasa marked the onset of August, autumn and the harvest season where the whole community helped with reaping the harvest. The cutting of the last sheaf, often known as the cailleach, was accompanied by a special ceremony. 

This sheaf was often decorated and hung above the table at a celebratory harvest meal. In some areas men and women decorated pieces of straw to make ‘harvest knots’ to be exchanged as tokens of love and courtship at the harvest festival.

Thomas Doyle (Educator at the National Museum of Ireland – Country Life)  will provide a detailed workshop using straw and ribbon to show the traditional knot weave.

Three sessions: held in Tubbercurry Community Library, Ballymote Community Library and Sligo Central Library

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