Search
08 Sept 2025
Search
08 Sept 2025
Please allow ads as they help fund our trusted local news content.
Kindly add us to your ad blocker whitelist.
If you want further access to Ireland's best local journalism, consider contributing and/or subscribing to our free daily Newsletter .
Support our mission and join our community now.
To continue reading this article, you can subscribe for as little as €0.50 per week which will also give you access to all of our premium content and archived articles!
Alternatively, you can pay €0.50 per article, capped at €1 per day.
Thank you for supporting Ireland's best local journalism!
Landless will perform as part of the Samhain festival which will take place at VISUAL at the end of October
The ancient Celtic traditions of Samhain, marking the end of the harvest season and the start of winter, will be revived in the VISUAL Theatre this Halloween.
A comeback of The Carlow Set dance, a fire show and an enchanting performance by four-part harmony group Landless are all part of the line-up for Samhain Festival 2024, which returns to VISUAL from Friday, October 25 to Sunday, October 27.
Celebrated as the Celtic New Year, Samhain was believed to be the time when the veil between the living and the dead was especially thin—allowing spirits to visit the living.
VISUAL CEO and Artistic Director, Emma Lucy O’Brien, said this year’s programme has been crafted to bring in traditional Samhain elements and modern Halloween celebrations.
“We wanted to create an experience that is both nostalgic and exciting for all ages,” she said.
Events are not just for little monsters during the day but for all creatures of the night, young and old. Witches and warlocks will descend on VISUAL as the festival opens with a movie screening and fancy dress contest at 10am on Friday. Later that evening, VISUAL will host Landless and Friends in the Link Gallery to mark the official opening concert of Samhain 2024.
“We are delighted to welcome Landless to Carlow for the Samhain Festival. Their own blend of traditional folk and contemporary influences will provide a mesmerising start to our festivities. This performance is sure to captivate and enchant all who attend.”
Other highlights during the weekend include a spook-tacular show, Spellbound with Joe The Magician at 3pm on Saturday, October 26 at the GB Shaw Theatre, and Spooky Tours for adults, VISUAL’s building at 8pm, 9pm, 10pm, and 11pm on Saturday, October 26.
The festival closes on Sunday, October 27 with Firenight - Lumina – a fire, light, and sound spectacle in the Carlow College Grounds at 8pm. ROGU is an award-winning fire show, light performance, and movement arts and education company based in Ireland.
“We hope that people enjoy some of the events we are hosting for Samhain 2024. It was all made possible thanks to the support from Fáilte Ireland, our County Council and the Arts Council of Ireland,” added Emma Lucy O’Brien.
Subscribe or register today to discover more from DonegalLive.ie
Buy the e-paper of the Donegal Democrat, Donegal People's Press, Donegal Post and Inish Times here for instant access to Donegal's premier news titles.
Keep up with the latest news from Donegal with our daily newsletter featuring the most important stories of the day delivered to your inbox every evening at 5pm.
This publication supports the work of the Press Council of Ireland and Office of the Press Ombudsman, and our staff operate within the Code of Practice of the Press Council. You can obtain a copy of the Code, or contact the Council, at www.presscouncil.ie, Lo-call 1800 208 080 or email: info@presscouncil.ie.
