Our Irish Wedding Adventure ~ The Mummers of Aughakillymaude (Post 6 of 12)

By Tracey Manailescu

When we went to Northern Ireland, we had expected to find some unique and different ideas that could be incorporated into weddings back in Toronto.  We also wanted to be able to offer our clients something they could add to their Destination wedding in Ireland. Boy, did we find it!

Tanya Cathcart (Marketing Manager for Fermanagh Lakeland Tourism) took us to meet Jim Ledwith who runs the “Aughakillymaude Community Mummers Centre” in West Fermanagh, Northern Ireland. With excitement in her eyes, she watched our faces to gage our initial reaction upon entering the Centre.  We weren’t quite sure what to make of the larger than life straw figures that were everywhere.

Photo courtesy of: Belfast Telegraph Co. UK

Jim Ledwith, got right into the powerful presence and tradition that “Straw Boys” had in the past, and can have at weddings today in Northern Ireland.  “Mumming” is apparently Ireland’s oldest, surviving theatrical tradition. We had a tour of the Community Centre & Museum, and than we watched a video of actual weddings they have performed at.

Straw Boys at a wedding are meant to bring happiness, good luck, wealth and health to the couple. The tradition started when weddings took place at home (before Church weddings and fancy reception venues became popular).  Now you can bring this tradition into your wedding!

15 Straw Boys (who must remain in disguise) will visit for about a half hour and will arrive after dinner, just before the dancing starts. Their theatrical visit includes music, singing, dancing and fertility related rituals that are supposed to guarantee health, good luck, fertility and happiness to the newlyweds. 

Some of the rituals that take place are the following:  

• A “Quack” Doctor will do a routine check of the couple (in the centre of the room) to ensure they are up to the task of making a family (Measuring the bride’s hips, etc.)        
• The Straw Boys then line up and make a long archway (which symbolizes the roof of a house) an older married couple must walk through and step over a broom (much like the tradition of “Jumping the Broom”) stating that they have completed a family, and than the newly wed couple will walk through, jumping over the broom, holding hands to signify starting a “new” family together. The Straw Boys will than shower the new couple with corn seeds over their heads.       
• The older couple than hands over a straw fertility sheath (girdle) that has many seeds in it, which is to be placed in the wedding bed that evening to ensure the continuity of life.
• The couple will than be seated where they will be “crowned” with newly made straw hats, than they are wrapped together with straw rope to symbolize their “oneness ie. tying the knot!”                     
• Following this, the couple are led to the dance floor where all of the wedding party and Straw Boys dance. *Girls are NOT supposed to refuse the dance with a Straw Boy. The Captain of the Straw Boys dances with the Bride (supposed to ensure longevity).                                           
• After the dance, a fruit bread is held over the couples heads (as they are back to back) which signifies that “as long as there is bread in the household, all within would be healthy and prosperous”. Then the Captain tells the couple to break it themselves. Whoever gets the biggest piece, will be “the boss of the house”.   

It was tradition that if the Straw Boys were well-received at the wedding, they would burn their hats on their way, and go to a pub to enjoy the remainder of their night.  If they were not welcomed, or treated badly, the straw masks would be put up on a high branch of a tree in front of the house, so that all who passed by the next day would know of the couple’s cruelty.

Contact: jim.ledwith@btconnect.com

How fabulous would your wedding be with a bit of history incorporated into it?  This is something you and your guests would never forget!  This is perfect for fun-loving, family focused Northern Irish descendants who want to have something extra special!  

I am so glad that Danielle & I were able to experience this (thank you Tanya) and to meet Jim.  Hats off to you!