1. Irish Catholicism, its rituals
and its resonances within the
family as well as the clashes
it produces.
By Matt Beverley

2. Irish Catholicism
• Irish Catholics are Irish citizens who are part of the Roman Catholic church. Catholicism ( a branch of Christianity) came to Ireland sometime
during the 5th century, Ireland was heavily Pagan at the time. The term Irish Catholicism is just a cultural distinction to other forms of
Catholicism across the world e.g. Ethiopian Catholicism. Across Ireland, Catholicism has a direct influence on most of Irish culture.
Catholicism has also associated itself with the stereotypical Irish citizen as a whole, it is common for other nations to associate the Irish with
them being Catholic.
• The influence of Catholicism also led to a rise in occupations such as Missionaries (in Colonial times) where they would travel to under
developed countries and try to convert the indigenous population to becoming Catholic in return for necessities such as medical care and
education. Furthermore you were considered to be of high status if someone in your family was a catholic priest/missionary.

3. Rituals and rules in Irish Catholicism
• St Patricks day
Arguably the most important day in the Irish culture. The 17th of March marks the day that of St Patrick, celebrated by millions around the world, and especially in
Ireland. St Patrick’s day was always held as an important religious day to celebrate the teachings of St Patrick.
• Irish Dance
Irish dancing or Irish dance is a group of traditional dance forms originating in Ireland which can broadly be divided into social dance and performance dances. Irish
social dances can be divided further into céilí and set dancing. Irish set dances are quadrilles, danced by four couples arranged in a square, while céilí dances are
danced by varied formations (céilí) of two to sixteen people. In addition to their formation, there are significant stylistic differences between these two forms of social
dance. Irish social dance is a living tradition, and variations in particular dances are found across the Irish dancing community; in some places, dances are deliberately
modified and new dances are choreographed

4. Relevance of Irish culture to Dancing at Lughnasa
• From the title it is obvious to see that dancing plays an important part in the play as a whole. On page 21-22 we are first shown how the
sisters use dancing as an escape from the reality they are stuck in. it is also a release for some characters, like Kate for example, who has
learned to suppress her emotion that she feels because she has to provide for the whole family. Music acts almost like an infection across
the girls beginning with Maggie ( the joker of the family) and who eventually affects Kate to join in as well.

5. Irish Catholicism in the family
• In Dancing at Lughnasa, this is shown through Uncle Jack who worked as a missionary in a Leper colony in Uganda. The family are very
proud of him for this and it is never kept a secret. However Jacks service as a priest in the British Army in Africa during the First World war is
kept secret because during the later end of WW1 (1916) Ireland began a rebellion against British rule which formally ended in 1922 when
Ireland was divided between the north (staying with Britain) and the rest of Ireland forming a republic away from Great Britain. It is frowned
upon because Kate played a role locally in the independence movement. The family keeps this part of Jack’s life a secret because of
this, Michael only finds out by chance when he finds a picture of Jack from the time being used as a bookmark.

6. Clashes within the family
• Religious ties are very prominent throughout the play. Some example of this would be the shame Chris feels because she had a child
(Michael) out of wedlock. Even though it has brought shame on the family all of the women (including Kate) love Michael enough. When
Jack returns, he reveals how his time in Africa has affected him and changed his viewpoints and has seemed to indoctrinate him and turn
him away from his Irish roots. We are made aware of this because he has barely got any Irish accent anymore and he refers to his time in
Africa as if he was born there. Kate is angered by this and shuts him up abruptly.
‘when Europeans call we speak English.’
‘In Ryanga women are eager to have love children.

7. Conclusion
• To conclude Irish tradition plays a major part in Dancing at Lughnasa . Traditional ties to religion and culture can cause rifts within the family
and change peoples opinions. We are led to believe that the reason behind Jacks return is his impending death because of malaria, however
we could be led to believe that he was sent home because of his increasing beliefs in the Pagan like religion in Africa.
By Matt Beverley