Kilkenny village to host exciting events as part of inaugural 'Féile Samhain'

‘Keep Her Lit’ returns to the beautiful village of Inistioge this November with the festival’s inaugural Féile Samhain gathering.

The two day festival (November 1 and 2) invites young and old to celebrate, commemorate, and congregate around the fire.
The programme of events is bursting with something for all ages!

From ancestral storytelling, bilingual foraging and apple pressing to willow weaving, trad sessions and a headline concert with John Spillane and Pauline Scanlon.

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Keep Her Lit was founded in 2022 in memory of local Inistioge heroes Johnny O Donnell and Dave Donohoe.

Festival co-founder Jadzia Kaminska says that Samhain 'feels like a coming home' for Keep Her Lit.

"We started the festival in memory of both Dave, my husband who we lost in 2021 and our good friend, Johnny O Donnell who sadly and suddenly passed away six months later to the day," she explained.

"We are really connecting with this special time of year, at the turning of the seasons, to reflect, commemorate and celebrate those who have gone from this realm."

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On Saturday, November 1, the stunning St Mary’s Church in Inistioge will host the festival’s headline concert with Cork bard John Spillane and a very special guest performance from Pauline Scanlon - in support of the Counter Attack campaign for heart health.

Rising Wexford singer-songwriter Rachel Grace will support on the night. A donation from ticket sales will go towards Croí Heart Charity.

Féile Samhain then takes over the village on Sunday, November 2, with a jam packed day of events including the new addition of a very special ancestral storytelling ceremony with poet Paddy Doyle, the welcome return of Kilkenny’s seanchaí Jim Maher, whose storytelling session sold out in 2023, along with traditional music sessions, willow weaving, a bilingual foraging walk, apple pressing with Kilkenny Fruit Tree Project, Samhain games plus the Roots of Samhain talk and walk.

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In addition, Cois Abhainn will host a joint set dancing and Dabke workshop led by Louise O’Connor and Belfast Dabke, a Palestinian led Dabke group based in Belfast.

Tickets for all events are on sale now. To secure yours, and to find out more, visit linktr.ee/keepherlit

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