And so today is St. John’s Eve, not something I ever remember celebrating in Cork city when I was growing up.
I am very greatful to Brena for the comment on my last entry.
This drove me to the usual internet sources and there discovering that nearly every European country has a strong tradition of celebrating the Summer Solstice with a bonfire.
The only trace of a memory that I have of the tradition is from a childrens story by Patricia Lynch called “Fiona Leaps the Bonfire” but that may well have referred to a bonfire at Halloween.

What is absolutely sure is that this was another instance of the church taking over another a pre-christian tradition as they did with All Souls, Christmas and Easter.
What is amazing to me, especially in Brena’s comment ;

“When my parents were young in the 30’s and 40’s they would light bonfires on St Johns eve and drive the stock (cattle) through the smoke. Also they would get smoke across any vegetable crops.
This would have been on the Beara peninsula.”

is that the purification by fire element in the tradition is surely nothing whatsoever to do with John the Baptist and is strong evidence of an ancient ritual still carried on at least until recent times in Ireland and (possibly) still in Catalonia.

If the night is at all clear tonight I will be watching the southern horizon for signs of fire.