Chapter 8. Uisneach: from the Ancient Assembly to the Fire Festival 2017 Frédéric Armao ABSTRACT: The ancient Irish year used to be divided into four seasons, each beginning with a specific festival. The ancient Irish texts do mention those four festivals (Samhain, Imbolc, Bealtaine, and Lughnasadh) and connect them with many mythological and (pseudo-)historical events. For instance, there apparently used to be an Assembly on the hill of Uisneach (Co. Westmeath) at the time of the festival of Bealtaine, that is the beginning of summer, where men gathered around the king or kings to settle important matters. Uisneach was also the place where, according to some traditions, the first fire of Ireland was lit. For centuries, the Assembly of Uisneach has been virtually forgotten. However, a renewed form of gathering is now held on the hill of Uisneach in early May. The “Fire Festival of Uisneach,” as it is called, is a popular festival where thousands of people (families, neo-pagans, or Celtic enthusiasts) gather. I had the chance to attend the festival on May 6, 2017. Both the ancient Assembly and the contemporary celebration will be accounted for and compared in order to understand the evolution of the gathering of Uisneach through centuries. KEYWORDS: Bealtaine, folklore, Irish festivals, mythology, Uisneach Introduction The hill of Uisneach1 lies about 15 kilometers west-southwest of a town called Mullingar, in County Westmeath, Ireland (53°29’20’’N, 7°33’40’’W), at a place which roughly corresponds to the geographical center of the island.2 Researchers have found traces of worship and rituals which are most 1 Alternative spellings can be found, e.g. Uisnech (the most common in Old Irish) or Uisneagh, Uishnach, Ushnagh, Ushney, Usna, Usnagh, Usnech, Usney, etc. (MacKillop 1998: 421). 2 According to the Ordnance Survey Ireland by the National Mapping Agency archives: “Geographical Center of Ireland: Where the 8° Meridian West meets the 53° 30’ North Latitude in the townland of Carnagh East Co. Roscommon. On the western shore of Lough Ree, opposite the Cribby Islands and 5.5 miles N.N.W of Athlone Town.” Retrieved from https://web.archive. org/web/20120228155031/http://www.osi.ie/en/faq/faq3.aspx (accessed on January 12, 2018).
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