13 September-Programmers’ Day

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Programmers’ Day, also referred to as The Day of the Programmer, is celebrated on the 256^th day of each year. The day celebrates the work of computer programmers and the effect their work has on our everyday lives. It was proposed by Valentin Balt and Michael Cherviakov and a decree recognising the day was signed by Russian President, Dmitry Medvedev in 2009.

The 256^th day of the year was chosen as Programmers’ Day because this is the number of distinct values that can be represented with an eight-bit byte. It is also the highest power of two which is less than 365.

Programmers’ Day is celebrated every year (except Leap Years, when it is celebrated the previous day), On This Day.

Photo by jeff_golden

International Programmers Day

23 June-Bonfire Night

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Bonfires are lit in many parts of Ireland on June 23^rd to celebrate St John’s Eve. Though it was once widely celebrated throughout the country, it takes place nowadays mostly in the west. Fires are lit around sunset and the evening is a festive occasion for the local community. It is believed to be an ancient pre Christian custom which celebrated the Summer Solstice.

The ancient pre Christian custom of lighting bonfires on what is now St John’s Eve occurs in many parts of Ireland every year On This Day.

Photo by leppre

Bonfire Night Buncrana

23 May-St Gobban

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St Gobban was the Abbot of Old Leighlin Monastery in Co Carlow Ireland during the 6^th century. He was succeeded as Abbot by his brother St Lazerian who was the first bishop of Leighlin. Today the monastery is the site of the Cathedral of St Laserian. It is one of the Church of Ireland cathedrals in the Diocese of Cashel and Ossory. St Laserian is one of the patron saints of the Roman Catholic diocese of Kildare and Leighlin.

St Gobban was born c.560 in Turvey, County Dublin. He served as Abbot of Old Leighlin until his brother, St Lazerian returned from Rome as Papal Legate. St Gobban then moved to Tascaffin, Co Limerick to live as a hermit. He is reputed to have been an architect and builder of churches and related structures, usually around a holy well. He is sometimes referred to as the Gobán Saor (highly skilled smith or architect) of 6^th and 7^th century Ireland.

The Feast Day of St Gobban is celebrated every year On This Day.

Photo by martina04

St Gobbans Chuch

11 April-St Mogue

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Clonmore is a village located in the north-east of Co Carlow, Ireland. It has a population of around 400. The village is named after St Mogue ( Naomh Maodhóg). He built a monastery and founded a religious community in the area in the early part of the sixth century.

St Mogue was descended from Dunlang who, at the end of the third century, was King of Leinster. St Mogue established a religious community in Clonmore around the year 530 AD. Known for working many miracles during his lifetime St Mogue worked to promote peace amongst the Irish Chieftains of the time.

The Feast Day of St Mogue, Abbot (in the 6th century) of Clonmore, Co Carlow, Ireland is celebrated every year On This Day.

Photo by Internet Archive Book Images

Image from page 272 of “Lives of the Irish saints : with special festivals, and the commemorations of holy persons, compiled from calendars, martyrologies and various sources, relating to the ancient Church history of Ireland” (1875)

18 March-Sheela’s Day

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Today is Sheela’s Day. In the Celtic calendar, Sheela’s Day was celebrated the day after St Patrick’s Day. It was annual festival held in ancient times. The festival was to honour what is thought to be the fertility goddess known as Sheela-na-gigh or Sheela-na-gig.

A Sheela-na-gig is a stone carving of a naked woman clasping her vulva. The greatest number of Sheela-na-gigs are found in Ireland. They were, at one time widespread on churches and castles and were usually positioned over doors or windows. They are also found in Great Britain, France and Spain. The largest collection of Sheela-na-gigs in the world are in the National Museum of Ireland.

Sheela’s Day is celebrated every year On This Day.

Photo by fhwrdh

Bunratty Sheela-na-gig

Photo by amandabhslater

St Mary and St David Church, Kilpeck, Herefordshire