Are you coming home? Kerry Homecoming Festival
Kerry Homecoming Festival at Halloween is a county-wide initiative to bring home our Kerry Diaspora taking place from October 18th to November 1st. It is presented by Kerry County Council as part of the Global Irish Festival Series, which is a joint initiative between Fáilte Ireland and the Department of Foreign Affairs.
Kerry Homecoming Festival is a call home from all aspects of Kerry Business, Tourism, Sports and Cultural organisations to come and enjoy close to fifty events and activities such as Samhain street spectacles, storytelling, Jack-o-Lantern carving, genealogy workshops and heritage talks, star-gazing, an American Wake at Kerry Writers Museum and much, much more.
The legendary Cailleach (Hag), will be the centerpiece of a thrilling Samhain spectacle in Listowel, Dingle, Kenmare and Tralee. The Cailleach is the goddess of the winter months. Her season begins on Samhain (the origin of Halloween), October 31st, when the Goddess Brigid hands her staff over. Her ability to form the landscape and mountains means that many prominent mountain landmarks are attributed to her. In Kerry she has given her name to the Hag’s Glen in the MacGilliycuddy Reeks mountains where the Hag of Corrán Tuathail (Carrauntoohill) plunged to her death in the lake known as Hag’s Lake.
The Samhain Spectacles will be supported by a series of family friendly workshops in 16 towns and villages, in the run up, led by Juli Ní Mhaoileoin, the Dingle Druid, in which people of all ages will learn how to make traditional Samhain masks and Jack-o-Lanterns and they in turn can take part in the spectacles wearing their masks or bearing their lanterns.
Genealogy and family research feature heavily in the programme with talks and workshops being presented by experts Kay Caball in the Killarney and Tralee libraries and Tom Dillon in Castleisland and Killorglin.
Kerry’s tradition of storytelling, particularly of the otherworldly kind at Halloween is also honoured through a number of storytelling sessions from Seán Ó’Laoghaire, Niall de Búrca and Tom Dillon throughout the county.
The programme also features the Global Gaelic Games Social Festival, in Killarney on October 18th and 19th. This truly unique celebration will bring together Gaelic Football enthusiasts from all corners of the globe to take part in non-competitive 9-a-side Gaelic games that emphasize inclusiveness and integration.
All of the existing seasonal Kerry festivals and some new ones, including and Féile Eile in Killorglin will also be joining in the fun - Kenmare Halloween Howl, the Patrick O'Keeffe Music Festival in Castleisland, the Skellig Coast Archaeology Festival the Kerry International Film Festival celebrating its 25th anniversary and Oireachtas na Samhna, both taking place in Killarney, as well as Tralee’s annual National Circus Festival and The Tralee Half Marathon.
The Homecoming Festival provides a unique opportunity to deepen our linkages with the Kerry Diaspora, Mayor of Kerry, Cllr Breandán MacGearailt stated.
“Despite being a small country on the edge of the Europe, on the edge of Atlantic, we have, over many generations developed a global network of Irish-diaspora, who are embedded into business, culture and society across the world. This is our way of welcoming our first, second, third and fourth generation of Irish back home, and showing them our culture and history.
Ciara Sugrue, Head of Festivals and Events at Fáilte Ireland said
“Festivals and events play a crucial role in showcasing the rich cultural tapestry of Ireland, attracting visitors from around the world to come and discover Ireland. The Kerry Homecoming Festival is a perfect example of how we can celebrate our heritage as the Home of Halloween, engage our diaspora, and create unforgettable experiences for all. By bringing together diverse activities and traditions, we not only boost tourism but also strengthen the bonds within our communities. We are pleased to collaborate with Kerry County Council and the Department of Foreign Affairs on this exciting event, as part of our Global Irish Festival Series and we look forward to welcoming everyone to Kerry this Halloween for this special celebration.”
