Beltane and the cattle fires

Cattle at Beltane and the cattle fires

Beltane, on 1 May, marked the beginning of summer in the Gaelic calendar of Ireland, Scotland and the Isle of Man. On the eve, household fires were put out and lit again from a festival bonfire, and in many districts the cattle were driven between two fires, or round them, in the belief that the smoke would protect them from disease and harm through the summer. Afterwards the herds were taken up to the summer grazing on the hills, a custom known in Ireland as booleying and in Scotland as going to the shieling, where young people stayed with them, milking and making butter. Many of these customs lasted into the twentieth century.

The breeds

KerryAn ancient Irish breed, close to the cattle of the old booleys.GallowayA hardy hill breed of south-west Scotland.