As part of this year’s Éigse na Brideoige Irish language festival in the South Kerry Gaeltachts we were involved in reviving the ancient Biddy Boys tradition which died out around forty years ago in this area. Together with kids from local National Schools, artist Holger Lonze and myself made around twenty sets costumes and hats, woven and plaited from rye straw. We used the left-over material to plait a horse's head in response to the 'capall' tradition in Caherdaniel. The outfits were used in a perfomance by the kids from various schools in Ballinskelligs, arranged by Laoise Egan.
Photography by Karen Hendy and Drawings by Holger Lonze
