Blúiríní Béaloidis 39 - Bees In Tradition (with Tiernan Gaffney)

About this episode

This episode discusses the cultural significance of bees in Irish tradition with guest Tiernan Gaffney.

Bees have been cultivated in Ireland since early times. Of value for their wax and honey, there were also believed to be blessed creatures, as Dáithí Ó hÓgáin writes: "probably because of the use of their wax to make church candles, and one medieval legend describes a swarm of bees building a little container around a lost communion wafer to protect it. They were also thought to be possessed of special wisdom, and to take an acute interest in the affairs of their owners. If a bee entered the house it was regarded as a good omen, and the bees in their hive would be told in advance of projects that the family intended to undertake in the belief that they might effect a beneficial influence. When a member of the family died, it was customary to place a black piece of cloth on the hiveso that the bees could join in the mourning". For this episode of Blúiríní I was honoured to have been joined by my friend and colleague from the National Museum of Country Life in county Mayo, and alumnus of the taught MA in Irish Folklore at UCD, Tiernan Gaffney. Tiernan is an Assistant Keeper of the Irish Folklife Collection at the National Museum of Ireland, his folklore research often explores the…

People in this episode

Guest: Tiernan Gaffney

Topics covered

• bees
• Irish folklore
• tradition
• cultural beliefs
• community
• exhibitions

Keywords

• bees
• Irish folklore
• tradition
• cultural beliefs
• Murmur of Bees
• National Museum of Ireland
• community

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: National Museum of Country Life, National Museum of Ireland

Books & works: Murmur of Bees

Places: Ireland, county Mayo, UCD

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