PICTURES: Storytelling, sessions, and sunshine at Keep Her Lit’s Féile Samhain in Kilkenny

Keep Her Lit’s inaugural Féile Samhain took over Inistioge village over the weekend.

The two-day festival with a big heart was filled with live music, workshops, heritage walks, willow weaving, apple pressing in support of Gaza, turnip carving, storytelling and lots more. The weekend was filled with celebration and commemoration for two local heroes Dave Donohoe and Johnny O’ Donnell.

St Mary’s Church in the village played host to the festival’s sold out headline concert on Saturday night with John Spillane and Pauline Scanlon. Rising songwriter, Rachel Grace from Wexford opened the concert with a beautiful set.

The concert was in support of the Counter Attack campaign which aims to raise awareness around heart health, with proceeds from concert tickets donated to Croí heart charity.

“We are blown away away by the rousing response to our inaugural Féile Samhain — the sun and the crowds came out for a wonderful vibrant celebration over the weekend,” said co-founder Liadain Kaminska.

“The energy, enthusiasm and joy was so heartwarming. It shows us just how important our traditional festivals are to keep alive.”

Samhain games and festivities kicked off in the square on Sunday with blue skies and sunshine welcoming visitors from near and far to the village. A packed programme of workshops, walks and storytelling took over various venues across the day.

A host of events sold out in advance including Heike Kahl’s Willow Weaving workshop, John Spillane’s songwriting masterclass, Maura Brennan’s bilingual foraging walk - Focail Fiáin: Wild Words and Charlotte Salter-Townsend's ‘On The Roots Of Samhain’ walk. READ MORE - WHAT'S ON IN KILKENNY

Kilkenny’s Paddy Doyle hosted the beautiful Cuairdíocht - an ancestral storytelling ceremony, Molly Garvey brought the Song Exchange and Kilkenny Seanchaí and master storyteller Jim Maher returned to a packed house once again.

In addition, Louise O’Connor and Dabke Belfast brought traditions from Palestine and Ireland by hosting a set dancing and Dabke dancing workshop in Cois Abhainn.

The village square played host to a programme of free events including apple pressing with The Kilkenny Fruit Tree Project, Samhain games, turnip carving with Hay Crafts, and a straw boy procession.

The lantern procession by the river remembered loved ones that are no longer with us. The Otter Bar and Woodstock arms hosted the festival’s mighty trad sessions bringing Keep Her Lit 2025 to a close.

The festival organisers are grateful for the support of The Arts Council, The Heritage Council, Kilkenny County Council and all the wonderful volunteers who made Féile Samhain possible.