Blackberry picking a noble art

The blackberry is very much part of folk and rural traditions, writes Donal Hickey

Blackberries are ripening slowly this year, possibly due to poor sunshine in August. Brambles are full of berries which are still red but, hopefully, things will soon improve. Looking out at the back fence, drooping brambles laden with berries can be seen, but not many are yet black.

Ripening would want to hasten, however, for there’s an old proverb that you shouldn’t pick blackberries after Michaelmas Day (September 29) when the devil is supposed to put his foot on the berries. Like many another proverb, there may be some sense in that because, by then, the berries could be infested with worms and larvae.