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As the sun begins its long, golden descent on Saturday, June 21st, 2025, if you are in the Northern Hemisphere will find yourself bathed in the radiant fullness of the Summer Solstice. At exactly 3:41 a.m., the sun will reach its highest point in the sky, marking the astronomical beginning of summer and the longest day of the year. In Ireland, where the rhythms of the land have long danced in step with the turning sun, this moment is more than a celestial event; it is a time steeped in meaning, echoing with ancient customs and a still kind of magic.
Just two days later, on June 23rd, Ireland marks St. John’s Eve, or more commonly known now as ‘Bonfire Night’ an ancient midsummer fire festival with roots older than Christianity itself. Once a widespread tradition throughout the island, bonfires would blaze across the landscape at sunset. People gathered around flames for protection, healing, and a touch of revelry. Herbs were tossed into the fire, stories were told, and some brave souls leapt through the flames, shedding bad luck and old fears with every jump.
In more recent times my memories of Bonfire Night are forever bound to the wild heart of the West of Ireland on the island of Inishmore, where the Atlantic winds carry whispers of older times. In the weeks leading up to the night, locals would quietly begin their preparations, gathering driftwood, pallets, and anything that might catch a flame, though now and then, someone might slyly slip in the week's rubbish for good measure. The fires are built high, stacked with care and anticipation, ready to greet the midsummer dusk.
But what stays with me most is the view from the island’s edge, looking back toward the mainland as night fell, the coastline would come alive with flickers of flame. Bonfires burned like beacons, stretching from beyond the Cliffs of Moher, across the lowlands of County Clare, and up through the stony threads of the Connemara coast. It was as if the land itself had caught fire, not in destruction, but in ancient celebration, each blaze a heartbeat echoing through the dusk.
But while they bask in the anticipation of some more summer sun in Ireland, the Southern Hemisphere is turning inward. At the exact same time, back in New Zealand, the Winter Solstice is unfolding. This weekend marks the shortest day of the year in Aotearoa, a quiet counterpart to the blaze of midsummer in Ireland. Here in New Zealand, the days are brief, the nights long and still. The light recedes early, inviting reflection, rest, and the gentle hope of new beginnings. While fires may still be lit, they are not for celebration but for warmth, for gathering close.
This global contrast the high sun of Ireland and the long shadow of New Zealand reminds us of the beautiful symmetry of the Earth’s rhythm. As we turn our faces to the sun in the North, our Southern siblings are holding space for the dark, each hemisphere in its own dance of renewal.
So this year, whether you find yourself standing in the glow of a Galway bonfire, watching the first light over Newgrange, or sipping tea on a frosty Christchurch morning, know that you're part of a shared, ancient cycle. The Solstice is a turning point, no matter where you stand on the globe. A time to honour the light, and the dark, and the eternal motion between the two. Because whether it’s the longest day or the shortest night, the Earth is still turning, and so are we.
- KD
Bonfire night on Inishmore, Galway, June 2021 - Photos by Kylee Dillane
Dia dhuit and Kia ora to all our members, friends, and extended whānau.
"Matariki mā Puanga: Celebrating together."– may this season bring rest, remembrance, and renewal for you and your whānau.”
As the stars of Matariki mā Puanga rise once more in the midwinter sky, we are reminded of the diverse ways the Māori New Year is observed across Aotearoa. For some iwi, particularly in the South Island such as Ngāi Tahu (or Kai Tahu in regional dialect), it is Puanga the bright star also known as Rigel that heralds the beginning of the new year. In many southern regions, Puanga is more visible than Matariki, and so it is the first to be seen. Yet whether one looks first to Matariki or Puanga, the spirit of the season remains the same: a time of remembrance, renewal, and shared celebration. we want to take a moment to acknowledge this special season and offer our heartfelt wishes to you and your families.
Over the past few years, the Christchurch Irish Society has marked Matariki with special events celebrating the unique cultural fabric of Aotearoa. This year, however, after the busyness and joy of hosting the Rose of Tralee NZ Selection, we’ve made the decision to step back from organising a formal gathering. Instead, in the true spirit of Matariki, we’re embracing the opportunity to slow down, rest, and spend time with our loved ones. It feels fitting. Matariki is, at its heart, a time to pause, an invitation to honour the past, celebrate the present, and look with intention toward the future.
The Monthly Blog You Didn’t Know You Needed (from Your Community Liaison Officer)
Dia dhuit, Kia ora,
Well, would you look at that – I’m nearly two months into the job as your Community Liaison Officer and what a whirlwind it’s been! Time flies when you’re figuring out where the coffee lives and how to spell “liaison” without checking three times (still a work in progress, honestly).
After the Easter break, I decided to kick off my tenure with a bang by organising my very first event – all by myself, thank you very much. Slightly terrifying? Yes. But I figured between my event experience and blind optimism, I could pull it off. And thus, the Mother’s Day Cookie & Crafting morning was born.
May I Muse?
A Quiet Love - Irish Documentary
We’re delighted to share the exciting news that the Irish documentary A Quiet Love will have its World Premiere at this year’s Doc Edge Festival and will be screened in Christchurch on 19th July at Lumiére Cinemas.
A Quiet Love is an intimate and moving film that follows three Deaf couple as they share their extraordinary love stories, through sign language: a decades-long forbidden romance across a religious divide, an LGBTQI+ couple navigating parenthood with Deaf and hearing children, and a Deaf boxer and his hearing partner facing a life-altering choice. A cinematic celebration of resilience, connection, and enduring love; featuring an immersive soundscape, A Quiet Love offers a beautiful insight into the world of Irish Deaf people. It is Ireland’s first feature film in Irish Sign Language, produced by a Deaf and hearing team and directed by award-winning filmmaker Garry Keane (In the Shadow of Beirut).
As this is an Irish story rooted in love, identity, and connection, we would love if members of the Irish community in Aotearoa would come along to support this film and celebrate the love stories of a community that are rarely represented on screen.
Click this link to buy tickets, a special concession price for the Christchurch Irish Club
Tickets are limited for this so get in quick!
Promotional Image for Irish Film - A Quiet Love
This weekend is the biggest weekend of the year for the Christchurch Irish Society — and we’d love to celebrate it with you! Join us for a very special evening co-hosted with the New Zealand Rose of Tralee as we proudly present Meet the Roses — a night filled with entertainment, music, laughter, and Irish spirit.
It’s a highlight of the Rose weekend, and we’d really love to see our members there showing their support. Your presence truly makes a difference.
Tickets are still available, but sales close Wednesday 21st May, so don’t miss your chance to be part of this unforgettable night!
📅 Friday 23rd May
📍 Addington Events Centre, 75 Jack Hinton Drive
⏰ Doors open 6:00pm | Start time 6:30pm
👗 Dress: Semi-formal
🎟 Tickets: $40.00 Adults
On the night, the Roses will take to the stage with their performance pieces — always a crowd favourite. Guests will enjoy shared plates throughout the evening, a cash bar for refreshments, and the lively sounds of the D’Blarney Duo to carry the celebration.
Kelly O'Grady - 2024 Rose of TraleeLet’s fill the room with familiar faces and community spirit — if you’re able to attend, we’d be thrilled to have you there!
Once in a lifetime chance to meet our International Rose of Tralee
Keely O'Grady
Join Us for an Information and Q&A Evening with Keely at the Christchurch Irish Club!
This special fundraising event will support the Canterbury Rose Selection.
Join Keely as she shares her inspiring journey of being crowned the International Rose of Tralee. This is your opportunity to ask Keely questions about her experience and gain valuable insight into what it’s like to represent New Zealand as a Rose of Tralee candidate.
When: Saturday, April 5th, 7:00 PM
Where: 29 Domain Terrace, Spreydon
Cost: $15
We’d love to see you there!
Get your tickets HERE
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