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Where Fire, Myth & Spirit Ignite – Samhain at Uisneach
Uisneach – Samhain in the Heartlands 2025
Step into Ireland’s spiritual heart this autumn at Uisneach – Samhain in the Heartlands 2025, a two-day festival honouring the Celtic New Year. Taking place on 8th and 9th November 2025 at the sacred Hill of Uisneach in Westmeath, this extraordinary event offers an authentic and immersive journey into the ancient origins of Halloween.
Long before Halloween crossed the Atlantic, the Celts marked Samhain here with fire, myth, and ritual. It was a liminal time, when the veil between worlds thinned, ancestors returned, and communities gathered to mark the turning of the year. At Uisneach, where Ireland’s five provinces once met, this ancient tradition comes alive once more.
The Saturday programme begins at 2pm with a self-guided haunted tour, leading you through ancient pathways filled with storytellers, music, and atmospheric surprises. Families can enjoy pumpkin carving, mask painting, craft stalls, fortune telling, and games, while history enthusiasts can explore exhibitions, astronomy talks, and even traditional Irish wrestling. As night falls, join the Samhain procession with fire-dancers, horses, wolfhounds, and mythological figures, culminating in the lighting of the great Samhain bonfire that blazes high into the night sky.
On Sunday, start fresh with a sunrise guided tour, followed by yoga, meditation, a communal breakfast of seasonal produce, and soulful storytelling. Visitors can also explore the Echoes of Uisneach Museum before departing.
Part of Ireland’s Home of Halloween calendar in Longford–Westmeath and Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands, this unique festival is both a celebration and a remembrance – where tradition is not just remembered, but reborn.
Tickets are limited, with options for Saturday, the full weekend, and a select number of camping and camper van passes.
