Apr 282020
Bilberries are similar to blueberries and are known as frochans/fraochán in Ireland. The small, reddish flowers are hard to spot as they hang down beneath the leaves. Traditionally, frochans were gathered on the hillsides on “Frochan Sunday” at the end of July. I haven’t come across many bilberry plants in Connemara. This one is growing on a wooded river-bank near Clifden. I will return in the summer to see if there are any berries.