Join us on Thursday, 8th February as Edwina Guckian hosts the official Dublin launch of her new book, Sparks from the Flagstones in ITMA’s library.

In the book, dancer Edwina Guckian celebrates the folk traditions and calendar customs of the Ireland in which she grew up in rural County Leitrim. You can pre-order the book here.

As a child Edwina’s Grandfather brought her to House Dances where he played the fiddle and she watched dancers in hobnail boots ‘knock sparks from the flagstones’ on traditional cottage stone floors. Half-doors were taken down from their hinges to dance on when the floors were rough or uneven.

Edwina too became ‘a great one for knocking sparks’ from the flagstones with her own dancing. Here she brings to life for readers of all ages the lovely colourful customs, fun and enchantments of her childhood. Dressing up for Halloween and for Wren Day and Brigid’s Day, going to communal ‘Bonefires’ at the crossroads, remembering the harvest ‘meitheal’ and hilltop berry picking on Bilberry Sunday.

Edwina vividly brings to life a world of Strawboys, Mummers and Biddy Boys, Crossroads Dances, Cake Dances, Nollaig na mBan feasts, Easter treats and many more year round Irish folk traditions.

Join Edwina as she dances through the Celtic Calendar Year and the importance of ancient Quarter Day customs and old-world Fire Festival traditions at Samhain, Imbolc, Bealtaine and Lughnasa. Every page of Sparks from the Flagstones fabulously and joyfully illustrated by Andrea Rossi