Imbolc Festival 2013 was held on February 3rd 2013.
The Offaly Express reports:
As part of the Slieve Bloom Association’s drive to revive the ancient tradition of the mountains, on Sunday February 3, some members of the association headed up to the Bracket Stones above Cadamstown to milk a goat on Spink Hill for the Festival of Imbolc.
The goat followed her owner Johnny Rigney to the elected spot and patiently waited as Mick Dowling performed the necessary deed – said to bring prosperity and a good harvest to all this year.
A number of the children present got the opportunity to try their skill at milking as well, and about 16 members enjoyed the fun or as one person said, ‘madness’.
Unfortunately, the magnificent view was shrouded in the mist on the day, so members have said that they will just have to visit again.
They then adjourned to try out the new coffee shop in Cadamstown in high spirits to replenish their energy and heat levels.
The Laois Nationalist reports:
The age-old tradition of milking a goat to bring prosperity may be the way forward for the ailing Irish economy.
If there’s any truth to the old fable that milking a goat on Spink Hill for the Festival of Imbolc brings richness, then Ireland and the people of Laois can look forward to a future of plenty, prosperity and good harvest.
Members of the Slieve Bloom Association gathered at the Bracket Stones above Cadamstown to revive the old Celtic tradition of milking a goat on Spink Hill for the Festival of Imbolc on Sunday 3 February.
Imbolc is one of the four Gaelic seasonal festivals, along with Bealtaine, Lughnasadhand Samhain.
Johnny Rigney led his nanny goat to the elected spot on the hill and patiently waited for local man and goat milker Michael Dowling to perform the necessary deed. A number of children who attended the festival got the opportunity to continue the tradition at hand milking as well.
The gathering then retired afterwards to the new coffee shop in Cadamstown in high spirits to replenish their energy levels.
One of the organisers, Michael Dowling from Camross, said that there were many pagan festivals once celebrated in the mountains and by reviving them it has the potential of bringing people together.
Imbolc Festival Milking of the Goat 2013