Wexford’s May Bush Festival to feature concerts, talks, processions, cookery workshop and school competitions

Michael Fortune at the Wexford May Bush Festival has outlined a series of initiatives and is encouraging as many people as possible to attend and get involved.

But firstly, for those who don't know, a May Bush is traditionally erected on the eve of May Day (April 30) and decorated with ribbons, seasonal flowers, painted eggshells and sometimes lights. Michael and his wife Aileen Lambert resurrected the tradition around the May Bush in 2017 in Wexford with 'The Wexford May Bush Festival' and now have hundreds of individuals, communities and groups putting up the May Bushes all over the county.

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This year they have produced a programme full of free events while the biggest undertaking has been the production of a new publication called The May Bush in County Wexford. While there are lots of small events the three main events take place on April 30, May 4 and May 9.

Decorate the May Bush and Procession in Ballindaggin – 7pm, April 30, May Eve

The Ballindaggin May Bush event has become Wexford's flagship event and has grown and grown every year. This is the biggest May Bush event in the county and on Tuesday April 30 the annual procession and decoration of the village May Bush in the Community Park in Ballindaggin takes place. The procession will be led by the 2024 May Queen & King from Ballindaggin NS with music provided by St. Colman's Pipe Band. Last year hundreds descended on the rural village and it was the focus of a TG4/RTÉ documentary which will be broadcast in the Autumn. There will be traditional music at the event thanks to local musicians Deirdre Jordan, Anna Mai White, Paddy Joyce and friends, while there will be songs, music and dancing by pupils from Ballindaggin NS. On the night there will also be a rare guest appearance of the full set of the Camross ICA Mummers.

May Bush Concert and Dance in Ballindaggin Hall – 8pm, May 4

There will be more traditional music, song and dance in Ballindaggin Hall on Saturday May 4 with a concert of some of our finest traditional musicians, young and old. Michael and Aileen are avid lovers of traditional music and song and have curated a programme that is hard to beat with special guests husband and wife duo Paddy and Nicola Egan, plus local musicians Leah Sweeney, Deirdre and James Jordan, Aileen Lambert, Annette Roban plus young traditional musicians and singers from Ballindaggin NS. Paddy is a renowned concertina player from the Egan family of Parkbridge in Co. Wicklow and will be joined by his equally talented wife Nicola on uilleann pipes. As for local musicians, Leah Sweeney is one of Wexford's rising stars on concertina while organisers are thrilled to get brother and sister Deirdre and James Jordan on stage together.

Launch of The May Bush in County Wexford – Gorey Library, May 9

Following Michael's sell-out publication ‘The Folklore of County Wexford’ in 2023, Michael and Aileen, with the support of Creative Ireland in Wexford County Council, joined forces and over the past six months have produced a new 130-page publication detailing with the May Bush tradition in Co. Wexford. A first of its kind, the book features photographs, texts, songs and archival content which explore the tradition in the county over the centuries. They also teamed up with the North Wexford Historical Society who are delighted to host the launch of the new publication in Gorey Library. This hour-long event will hear Michael and Aileen speak about the content, sources and wider May folklore and customs from County Wexford. The couple will be joined by their three young daughters for songs, verses and tunes in what will be an enjoyable and informative evening to get you in the humour for summer.

Schools Competition

One of the success stories of The Wexford May Bush Festival is the reach it has had on the ground and Michael works on the principle that “you are the festival”. So by putting up your May Bush in Craanford or Campile or in Kilanne or Killenagh – you are the festival, and you are part of the ground-up success which has seen the tradition revived in every corner of Wexford. Much of the work undertaken by Michael with the festival goes unseen and he spends days on promotion and admin and with the help of local, national and social media he gathers these photos up and shares them and their stories which helps to further root the tradition in the county.

“The real success over the past few years was when I put a call out to every primary school in County Wexford to put up their May Bush,” said Michael. This is the third year of The May Bush Schools competition and Michael said: "there was a great uptake all over the county and schools are such an important part of this story". This year he is asking schools to put up their May Bushes and submit your May Bush photos to folklore.ie@gmail.com, naming your school, class teacher and class involved by Tuesday, May 2, and be in with a chance to win a host of goodies for your school.

To find out more follow facebook.com/thewexfordmaybushfestival or download the complete programme at www.folklore.ie.

The Ballindaggin Procession and May decoration event on May Eve is open to locals and visitors alike and to be involved all you need to do is turn up with some decorations for the May Bush and then sit back and enjoy the atmosphere, chat, song and tunes in the heart of rural Co. Wexford. Admission to the concert is €10 and for the complete lineup of musicians please visit facebook.com/thewexfordmaybushfestival

This event is supported by a Small Festivals Grant from the Arts Department of Wexford County Council. If you have any questions please phone Michael on 087 647027.