Every year I find it difficult to accept that summer is over. I know that Autumn is a lot of people’s favourite season, but I’m slow to give in to the joys of the season. I’ve lived in Ireland for over thirty years, but I still can’t accept that it’s not the Med (my childhood summers). Especially when the summer wasn’t great like this year. I feel cheated. I live in denial until October: not wearing socks, not lighting the fire, or getting out the winter jackets.
This year it was easier to stay in denial. First, we took off for a week of ‘Fly and Flop’ in the sunshine. It was great to fill up on some vitamin D, local food and wine, and poolside ‘R&R’. Judging by the queues at the airport, I’m not the only one who wanted one last chance at summer. Then returning home was lovely. Warmer and sunnier than August. In the week we’d been away the landscape had changed, the swallows were gone, and the blackberries were ripe. I had to finally admit that the leaves were turning, the evenings getting darker and that it all is rather lovely. I pulled on some socks, brought out the jackets and lit a fire.
One of the joys of the Autumn is the return of Community with a capital C. These are the various classes, groups, charities and associations which start up again after the summer break. It is lovely to get back to the various activities and groups that I participate in and catch up with everyone. Nothing makes the point that Autumn is here, and Winter is coming than when we get together for the community apple pressing. We only got 30kg of apples this year. That’s 25kgs less than last year. It was also great to get back to the exercise groups I participate in. None of us are in any way athletic, but it’s great to get the body moving – and having coffee and chats after. September always feels like a new beginning, much more so than January. I suppose it’s all those years in education, both mine and my children’s. Autumn was all about starting something new. These days it’s the start-up of the year’s groups and activities that gives me that sense of renewal.
West Cork has an incredible variety of groups and associations, as well as classes and workshops. From book clubs to choirs and from painting to Zumba, there is something for everyone. Learning a new skill or helping a local charity is a great way to feel the heartbeat of a community. In a world that is becoming more and more polarised, joining a community group, whether it’s bingo or yoga is to meet new people, some whom you might not have met otherwise. In fact, I think that one of the reasons that West Cork has such a vibrant community is because people participate enthusiastically in local efforts whether it the Darkness into Light or the Clonakilty Guitar festival. Participation in and support for local initiatives is one of the blessings of living here.
For the past eight years one of those local initiatives has been the magnificent Samhain parade at Halloween in Clonakilty organised by Geata Arts. This year they did not receive any funding from the Arts Council, but they are still determined to bring the magic of Samhain to the streets of the town. They have launched a GoFundme page to raise the money to cover the costs of production. You can donate by going to GoFundme and search for Samhain 24.
Halloween is one of those times in the year where community celebrates together. It’s definitely one of my favourite times of the year and thanks to the great local initiatives like the Leap Scarecrow Festival and the Clonakilty Samhain parade, I will delight in embracing the season.
