REPS

Did anyone go picking bilberries last Sunday? Would you know where to find them?

Domhnach Sunday

The last Sunday in July is also known as Fraochan or Bilberry Sunday. Traditionally it was the day to go picking the tiny blue fruits. According to folklore, the devil spits on the berries after that day.

Young people gathered up the mountain, picking bilberries, playing music and dancing. They weaved little wicker or rush baskets for berry picking. Later, bilberry cakes were made for the bilberry dance. It was a version of the ancient celtic festival of Lughnasa.

Bilberry (Fraochan)

This is one of the most widespread plants of undamaged mountain bogs. The bushy shrub grows 25 to 60 centimetres high. Drooping, urn-like, pink flowers with green tips give rise to a sweet black berry covered with a blue bloom.

Bilberry is known for its fruit. It is the most versatile of bog berries. The succulent juicy fruit can be enjoyed raw or cooked in pies, jams and preserves. It also makes nice wine.

Herbal value

Leaves and berries had medicinal uses, including vascular and blood disorders. They improved poor vision and ‘night blindness'. During the war, pilots ate bilberry preserves before night missions to aid night vision. Bilberry tea was used to treat stomach problems and soothe the digestive tract.

Dye

Knowing how berries stain the mouth when eaten, it's not surprising they are a useful dye. Berries provide purple dye, or blue with ferrous sulphate. Bilberry stems and branches provide brown dye.

Bilberry is just one of the flora of upland blanket bogs. These areas are particularly rich in plants, mosses, liverworts and lichens, as well as fauna. Blanket bogs characterise the renowned scenery of our uplands and the west of Ireland, part of our past - and our future.