Thursday 1 May 2025Bealtaine and Butter
Join this free Bealtaine & Butter themed Guided Tour and Poetry Workshop celebrating Poetry Day Ireland, 1st May, at The Butter Museum in Cork.
On Bealtaine (May Day) in Ireland, butter was more than just food — it was tied to folklore, luck and protection.
People believed that witches or fairies could steal their butter, so they guarded their churns, avoided gifting butter and even smeared it on doors or animals to ensure prosperity.
This event will bring a group of up to 12 writers to the Butter Museum in Shandon, Cork City, for a free guided tour. Participants will explore traditional butter-making equipment, uncover the folklore behind butter rituals, and even view a thousand-year-old keg of butter — a symbol of Ireland’s deep dairy heritage.
After the tour, the group will gather in Maureen’s bar, a nearby cozy and quiet setting ideal for a cup of tea or coffee and a debrief facilitated by Molly Twomey. Each participant will receive a copy of a poem for inspiration, along with a Bealtaine-themed writing prompt encouraging them to explore themes of the landscape, folklore and personal memories of butter. A writing session will follow, concluding with a group sharing.
To register, please email bealtainebutter@gmail.com.
Supported by Poetry Ireland through the Bright Ideas Bursary. Poetry Day Ireland is an all island celebration of poetry taking place on Thursday 1st May 2025 with the theme of 'May Day'. Visit poetryday.ie to find events near you and learn how to get involved!