Ancestral storytelling, bilingual foraging, Palestinian dancing and more at upcoming Kilkenny festival

There is just under two weeks to go to Féile Samhain presented by Keep Her Lit Festival.

The festival will take place on Saturday and Sunday, November 1 and 2, in the heart of Inistioge. The two-day programme is filled with live music, workshops, trad sessions, songwriting masterclasses and lots more. Organisers invite young and old to join the Féile Samhain festivities, and pre-booking is advised.

“We're delighted to bring past festival favorites such as seanchaí storytelling and singing sessions together with exciting new additions - Palestinian Dabke and Set Dancing workshops and bilingual foraging walks - embracing our traditional Irish heritage and cultural diversity at this special time of the year. Advance booking is advised as some of the workshops are selling fast," said Liadain Kaminska, festival organiser.

There’s a packed programme of music workshops, walks and storytelling. Heike Kahl’s Willow Weaving workshop is SOLD OUT! Keep Her Lit welcomes back the wonderful Maura Brennan for a bilingual foraging walk - Focail Fiáin: Wild Words and Kilkenny poet and incredible storyteller Paddy Doyle hosts Cuairdíocht - an Ancestral Storytelling Ceremony.

Charlotte Salter-Townshend brings ‘On The Roots Of Samhain’ - an immersive walk that will explore the folklore and ecology of plants found along the River Nore and in the hedgerows and hinterland of Inistioge.

Molly Garvey hosts the Song Exchange - a space to share a song and story behind it. Following a sold-out event at Keep Her Lit 2023, Kilkenny Seanchaí and master storyteller Jim Maher will return to the festival. Advance booking advised as spaces are limited.

Bringing together traditions from Palestine and Ireland, Louise O’Connor and Dabke Belfast will host a set dancing and Dabke dancing workshop in Cois Abhainn. Open to all levels, this workshop will include a set dancing lesson and a Dabke lesson, and culminate in bringing the two traditions together. Finally, the mighty John Spillane who headlines the festival on Saturday night brings a songwriting masterclass to Cois Abhainn. Limited availability.

In addition, there’s a host of free events throughout the day. The Kilkenny Fruit Tree Project will be hosting apple pressing in the village square. Festival goers are invited to bring apples and bottles/containers to bring your juice home and learn all about fruit tree planting and growing.

Monica Fleming from Hay Crafts will host Samhain Games, Turnip carving and Straw Boy Procession in the village square. There’ll be a host of other gorgeous events, sessions and gatherings taking place throughout the day including Lantern making to remember loved ones that are no longer with us followed by Samhain singing and a lantern procession on the river, a Palestinian Solidarity session to raise voices and instruments in solidarity with the people of Palestine.

Keep Her Lit Féile Samhain takes place in various venues on November 1 and 2 in Inistioge. For full festival programme, tickets, event times please visit https://www.tickettailor.com/events/keepherlit