Lughnasa in Tipperary

Devil's Bit Mountain

The last Sunday in July is known as Reek Sunday and is associated with the pilgrimage up Croagh Patrick. Other names include Garland Sunday, Garlic Sunday and Billberry Sunday.

This Christian pilgrimage is often thought to have replaced the pre-Christian festival of Lughnasa.
Interestingly enough in "The Festival of Lughnasa" by Máire MacNeill a number of places in Tipperary are associated with similar pilgrimages or walks on the last Sunday in July / Lughnasa. (The date of which varies)
Mothers Mountain near Kilcommon / Rearcross (North Tipp)
Keeper Hill near Kiloscully (North Tipp)
Knockshegowna near Ballingarry (North Tipp)
Devil's Bit near Gortagarry (North Tipp)

The exact date for Lughnasa festivals varies a bit.

For example - Rock Sunday at the Rock of Barnane or Devil's Bit is said to be the closest Sunday to the St. James's Day which is the 25th of July. (See the festival of Lughnasa - pg 218) That would make it today but this year a Mass is being held on the last Sunday of July which is next week.

That ties in with probably the most famous Lughnasa pilgrimage - Reek Sunday at Croagh Patrick which is scheduled for next Sunday also.

The book also mentions one holy well
St Peakaun's Well in the Glen of Aherlow (South Tipp)

The church of Moycarkey outside Thurles also is recorded as being visited at Lughasa in The Festival of Lughnasa - pg 643

"In 1840 O'Donovan and his colleague, Antony Curry. learned that a patron had been annually held at this church on Domhnach Cruim Duibh or Garland Sunday. From this O'Donovan inferred that it was one of the church of St. Patrick : he made this inference because he had found so many Garland Sunday celebrations with Patrician associations that he regarded the day as a feast of St. Patrick."

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