Uisneach - Samhain in the Heartlands
8th & 9th November 2025
Long before Halloween crossed the Atlantic, its roots were planted at the
Hill of Uisneach - Ireland's spiritual centre. This ancient site, where the five provinces of Ireland once met, was the original gathering place to mark the Celtic New Year, with fire, myth and celebration.
Long before modern calendars, the ancient Celts marked the turning of the year with Samhain. This ancient festival, steeped in fire, myth, and mysticism, honours the end of the harvest and the beginning of winter — a liminal time when the physical and spiritual realms intertwine. Steeped in legend, Uisneach was a place where kings, druids, and communities gathered to honour the dead, seek guidance for the dark months ahead, and celebrate the cycle of death and rebirth.
It was believed that at Samhain, the spirits of ancestors returned, and time itself became fluid — a powerful moment to pause, reflect, and begin again.
This incredible two day event of storytelling, ritual, music and fire, all set in the shadow of the sacred hill, where tradition is not only remembered, but reborn. Where the boundaries between worlds were believed to be thin. As the meeting point of Ireland's five provinces, Uisneach offers an unparalleled, authentic gateway into the origins of Halloween.
Ireland's Hill of Uisneach, where myth, fire, and festivals began.
Tickets:
https://uisneach.ie/.../uisneach-samhain-in-the-heartlands/
Tickets will be limited to Saturday only or weekend, along with a limited amount of tent and camper van tickets!
Saturday 2pm – ‘Til late!:
- Self-guided Haunted Tour – Walk these ancient pathways under the cover of darkness where you will be met by storytellers, music and a few frights along the way!
- Live music, storytelling, craft stalls, exhibitors and much MUCH more!
- Food and Beverage Vendors.
- Pumpkin Patch and carving along with mask painting to be included in the procession.
- Samhain Fun and Games for kids both young and old!
- Fortune Telling.
- Try your hand at the ancient Irish sport of Elbow & Collar Wrestling known as Brollaidheacht.
- Night-Skies Astronomy talk from the summit with Anthony Murphy from Mythical Ireland.
- Tom King (An Gobha) and Eoin Reardon exhibitions.
- Meet the incredible Irish Wolfhound Experience as they bring several of their famous Irish Wolfhounds to Uisneach.
- Watch our procession lead by fire-dancers, horses and wolfhounds as it weaves it’s way up to our sacred fire site where our large Samhain Bonfire will blaze high into the night sky! This will be an authentic Samhain procession to include all the mythological figures who represent the marking of this festival.
Sunday 7am – 12pm:
- Sunrise guided tour of Uisneach to blow off the cobwebs!
- Meditation & Yoga classes.
- Communal breakfast with locally sourced seasonal produce to the sounds of further Samhain storytelling and music.
- Visit our Echoes of Uisneach museum before departure.
UIsneach - Samhain in the Heartlands is part of Ireland’s
Home of Halloween calendar in Longford - Westmeath, and Ireland's Hidden Heartlands.