Lingaun Valley Solstice Festival reveals line-up for June celebration

The Lingaun Valley Solstice Festival has today announced its full programme for its inaugural edition, running from Sunday 14 to Sunday 21 June 2026 across a series of venues throughout the Lingaun Valley and culminating in a major solstice gathering at the historic Ormond Castle in Carrick-on-Suir.

Themed Where Light Meets the Land, the festival brings together storytelling, participatory arts, heritage, live music and community gatherings in one of Ireland's most distinctive river valleys, drawing on the landscape, folklore and living traditions of the Kilkenny–Tipperary borderlands.

A Full Week of Events

The festival opens on Sunday 14 June at the Community Hall in Kilcash with a Community Storytelling night featuring Helena Byrne and Ade Walsh, alongside live music from Kilcash Comhaltas, Hooks and Crookes Sea Shanty, John Ryan, Dom O'Driscoll and more. The evening runs from 8pm to 10.30pm.

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On Monday (June 15), Selene Murphy and Monica Fleming lead a Lantern Making Evening at the Community Hall in Windgap from 7pm to 9pm, inviting participants into the heart of the festival's light and craft strand.

The following day, Tuesday (June 16) brings two events: a Know Your Hedgerow Walk and Talk with Maura Brennan of the Acorn Project from 11am to 1pm at Tullahought Church Carpark, followed by 5,000 Years of Carving Monuments in the Lingaun Valley with Elizabeth Sheehy, visiting Knockroe from 2pm to 3pm and Ahenny High Cross from 3.30pm to 4.30pm.

On Wednesday (June 17), Jimmy Walsh and Pat O'Gorman lead Stories from the Valley, a morning of place-based storytelling across Tullahought and the Ahenny High Crosses from 10am to 1pm.

On Thursday (June 18) sees the festival move to the Ormond Slate Quarries for a full day of activity. Alan Counihan and Declan McNamara lead a Walls and Waylines Dry Stone Walling Workshop from 10am to 2pm, followed by a Heritage Talk on the Ormond Slate Quarries with Pat O'Gorman and Jimmy Walsh from 2pm to 3pm.

On Friday (June 19) returns to the Ormond Slate Quarries in the morning with a second Walls and Waylines Dry Stone Walling Workshop from 10am to 2pm and a further Heritage Talk from 2pm to 3pm. The evening then moves to Kilkieran Barn for a second Community Storytelling night with Martin Matthews and Ade Walsh, with live music from Neill Bourke, Kevin Power, Paney Bartley, Phila Grace, Hannah Walsh and more, running from 8pm to 10.30pm.

On Saturday (June 20) is a full day at the Ormond Slate Quarries. Martin Lyttle leads Wayfinding the Lingaun Valley — Relief Slate Carving from 10am to 3pm. Walter Power guides a Slate Quarry Loop Walk from 10.30am to 12.30pm. Selene Murphy and Paul Bokslag lead Lighting the Lingaun — Community Lantern Making from 11am to 3pm. Local musicians Ruth Lydon on harp and Mark Anthony McGrath on guitar perform throughout the afternoon.

The Light Returns — Festival Finale, Sunday June 21

The festival culminates on the summer solstice with The Light Returns at the courtyard of Ormond Castle in Carrick-on-Suir. Doors open at 5.30pm with events from 6pm and music from 7.30pm until 10.30pm.

The closing night unfolds as a three-part audience experience — The Gathering, The Solstice Moment and The Celebration — bringing together storytelling performances, community lantern and slate relief carving exhibitions, and a series of headline music acts.

Music on the night features D'Bize, Beats of Éire and The Big Mad Horn Céilí Band.

Tickets for The Light Returns are priced at €30, with a concession rate of €25 for unwaged attendees and OAPs. Tickets are available at www.lingaunvalley.ie.

Ticketed and Free Events

Community Storytelling takes place on June 14 and 19 and are ticketed at €15 per person. All other festival events are free to attend, with registration required for workshops and guided walks. Full booking information is available at www.lingaunvalley.ie.