Blurb:

Lughnasa, the Irish term for August and the third of the four quarter days in the Irish calendar, heralds the beginning of autumn. It marks the promise of the ‘first fruits’ of the harvest and a plentiful supply of food on the horizon to fill depleted larders. Lughnasa is inextricably linked to food production, storage and consumption, however, food-specific studies are in their infancy. Its connection to the harvest compels investigation into the rules, rituals and customs surrounding this celebration. This paper utilises a combination of food studies, folklore studies and archival research to highlight Irish food traditions.