Keep Her Lit presents Féile Samhain
Saturday, 31 October and Sunday, 01 November 2026
Awe na Mná concert, Strawboy Session, Lantern Procession and more announced for Féile Samhain.
Keep Her Lit returns home to the iconic village of Inistioge, Co. Kilkenny in just 4 weeks with a packed programme of events to mark the festival’s final gathering of the year – Féile Samhain. The 2-day festival invites young and old to commemorate, celebrate and congregate around the fire.
On Saturday, October 31 the festival’s headline ‘Awe na Mná’ concert takes place in the beautiful St. Mary’s Church. The concert is hosted by renowned singer and songwriter Karen Casey who brings together an all-female lineup of powerhouses including festival friends, the mighty Clare Sands and multi-instrumentalist Inni-K.
Keep Her Lit was founded in 2022 in memory of local Inistioge heroes Johnny O’Donnell and Dave Donohoe. Féile Samhain brings us full circle in our year of seasonal gatherings marking the Celtic festival calendar. It is extra special to have our final festival of the year in Inistioge – where Dave and Johnny both lived – and to invite locals and visitors alike to come together and honour those that have gone before us while keeping the flame of creativity, community agus ceol burning, stated festival organiser Kasia Kaminska.
On Sunday, 01 November Féile Samhain takes over the village with a very special Samhain Gathering on the square with apple pressing hosted by Kilkenny Fruit Tree Project, Strawboy Session with Up She Flew, Turnip Carving with Monica Fleming, Willow Weaving and more. Cois Abhann will host Sean Nós dancing, Sean Nós singing with Eithne Ní Chatháin and a Lantern Making Workshop. The village will be filled with trad sessions throughout the day and a remembrance lantern procession hosted by Maura Brennan and Paddy Doyle to close the festival.
Keep Her Lit invites one and all to welcome the darker half of the year. Friends, locals and visitors from near and far are welcome to join a weekend of traditional music and dance, storytelling and song, and family-friendly activities rooted in seasonal traditions and heritage.
Keep Her Lit is supported by The Arts Council of Ireland, The Heritage Council and Kilkenny County Council.
Tickets go on sale Friday, 02 October 2026. Please visit https://linktr.ee/keepherlit for all tickets and further event information.