Keep Her Lit returns to the beautiful village of Inistioge, Co. Kilkenny this November with the festival’s inaugural Féile Samhain gathering. The 2 day festival invites young and old to commemorate, celebrate and congregate around the fire.

Keep Her Lit Féile Samhain’s programme of events is bursting with something for all ages! From ancestral storytelling, bilingual foraging & apple pressing to willow weaving, trad sessions and a headline concert with John Spillane and Pauline Scanlon.

Keep Her Lit was founded in 2022 in memory of local Inistioge heroes Johnny O Donnell and Dave Donohoe. “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. 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.” said Festival co-founder Jadzia Kaminska.

On Saturday, 01 November, the stunning St. Mary’s Church in Inistioge village will host the festival’s headline concert with Cork bard John Spillane and a very special guest performance from Kerry banríon Pauline Scanlon. The concert is in support of the Counter Attack campaign, which aims to raise awareness around heart health and heart attacks through music. Rising Wexford singer-songwriter Rachel Grace will support on the night. A donation from ticket sales will go towards Croí Heart Charity.

On Sunday, 02 November, Féile Samhain takes over the picturesque village of Inistioge 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. 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. Dabke is not just a dance, but a deep-rooted Palestinian folk art that embodies joy, belonging, and has become a symbol of resilience and resistance for the Palestinian people.

Keep Her Lit invites one and all to welcome the darker half of the year. Friends, locals and visitors near and far are welcome to join a weekend of live music, storytelling, workshops, talks, walks rooted in seasonal traditions and lots more!

Tickets for all events go on sale Friday, 26 September at 9am. Please visit https://linktr.ee/keepherlit for all tickets and further information.