Samhain Chiarraí

Street Spectacles

This autumn, Kerry invites you to experience Samhain Chiarraí: A Kerry Halloween — a festival of fire, folklore, and community spirit that celebrates the true Celtic roots of Halloween.

Building on the success of last year’s Kerry Homecoming Festival, Samhain Chiarraí offers a month-long programme of immersive events across the county, with highlights during the mid-term break. At the heart of the festival lies the story of An Cailleach Chiarraí—the wild Goddess of Winter. Local legend tells how she was born on the Dingle peninsula and shaped the Kerry landscape, even creating the jagged MacGillycuddy’s Reeks when stones fell from her apron.

Her return each year at Samhain marks the end of the harvest and the beginning of the darker half of the year, signalling the Celtic New Year.

Street Spectacles & Celebrations

A series of unforgettable street events will light up Kerry towns with music, storytelling, and performance. View the full programme of events HERE.

1. Samhain Chiarraí Fire Ritual

Hosted by the Dingle Druid, Julie Malone. The Samhain Fire Ceremony marks the third harvest, a time of gratitude for all that we have received. Together we will gather in community to reflect, honour our ancestors, release what no longer serves us, set intentions as we enter the darkest part of the year. Celebrate with fire, music, and ritual. This participatory ceremony invites renewal, blessing, and celebration with our Dingle Druid. Join us as we harvest the light to enter the darkness in celebration as our ancestors have done before us. Registration required for FREE tickets.

2. Samhain Chiarraí Procession

Celebrating Ireland as the birthplace of Halloween, the Samhain night procession present spirits, mythical creatures and ethereal beings in a captivating fusion of Celtic mythology and folklore taking your through the transition of darkness to light. Meet the Cailleach her Druids with Fire, Stilters, Bands, Traditional Groups and a host of parade participants.

3. Cailleach Céilí with the Kingdom Céilí Kickers

Aligning with the processions, join us one and all for a monster Cailleach Céilí. Learn to Irish dance and celebrate community, rhythm, and fun (For Beginners, Intermediates or Advanced).

4. Samhain Sounds

Join us for a night of celebration with music, song and performance

5. Cailleach Chiarraí ‘The Awakening’ Spectacle

The story of the awakening of the Goddess of Winter Cailleach Chiarraí. While the Cailleach's most powerful origin stories link her to the mountainous south and west, her influence as the personification of winter is felt across the entire county. When Samhain comes and the veil thins, all of Kerry feels the Cailleach's awakening, making her influence over this world and the otherworld. A live production with music, dance, song & fire.