Irish ears are no doubt finely tuned to record the first calls of the returning cuckoo. One's behaviour when the distinctive cry at last is heard, however, and one's reaction to this singular event, may have a profound impact on one's well-being for the remainder of the year.
It is considered lucky, for example, to be walking when the cuckoo is first heard. If, on the other hand, you hear it from your bed, then you or someone near and dear to you will fall ill before the cuckoo once again departs.
If you have no money in your pocket when it calls, or if you do not carefully turn over every coin upon your person, you are destined to be poor for the rest of the year.
But the cuckoo can be useful, too. If, when first you hear the wandering voice, you immediately sit down and take off your left shoe, you will find in it a hair of exactly the same shade as that of he or she who is destined to be your true love.
And keep an eye upon the right foot too. According to Thomas Hill in Natural and Artificial Conclusions, written in 1650, "if, when you first hear the cuckoo, you mark well where your right foot standeth, and take up of that earth, the fleas will by no means breed where any of that same earth is scattered".
The cuckoo is also blamed in the popular mind for many of the meteorological idiosyncrasies of this time of year. Irish tradition has it that the last two weeks of April and early days of May often bring a short snap of unseasonably cold weather, and since this is the period during which the cuckoo is heard for the first time, our forefathers called such a cold snap Scairbhin na gCuach. "Scairbhin na gCuach, garbh's fuar," they used to mutter to each other: "the cuckoo spell is blustery and cold".
Indeed, the cuckoo's song is a timely reminder to look around to see if nature locally is up to schedule. Another saying is based on the theory that if the trees have not developed leaves before the cuckoo comes, the growing season is retarded and you may not have sufficient grass to feed your cow; you should dispose of it, and stock up with bread and other foods instead.
The English version varies the livestock slightly, but expresses much the same idea:
When the cuckoo comes to an empty thorn
Sell your horse and buy some corn.