A celebration of Irish food and culture, the Samhain Festival brings together the past, present, and future of Irish culinary traditions. From Thursday, November 7th to Sunday, November 10th, this festival showcases the very best in Irish food, drink, culture, and history through an exciting series of events in the heritage town of Kells. Here's what you can look forward to:
Thursday, 7th November
Opening Night Reception: Trad Session with Carlingford Oysters & Stout
Location: Jack's Bar, 8pm
Kick off the Samhain Festival at Jack’s Bar with a traditional Irish music session! Enjoy local beer or stout paired with award-winning Carlingford Lough Oysters. The music will start at 9pm, with local musicians coming together to celebrate Irish music and create a lively atmosphere. Come for the Craic agus Ceol!
Friday, 8th November
Raw & Natural: Exploring Irish Raw Milk Cheeses and Natural Wines
Join Kevin Sheridan and Enrico Fantasia for an evening of Irish raw milk cheeses and natural wines from the Piedmont region of Italy. This informative and fun tasting session will highlight the fascinating worlds of artisan cheese and natural wines. You'll learn about pairing flavours while enjoying a variety of samples.
Food for the Soul
Join playwright Deirdre Kinahan and musician Steve Wickham for a unique evening blending performance and music. Deirdre will perform excerpts from her award-winning plays, including The Saviour and The Unmanageable Sisters, with original music responses by Steve Wickham. Get a sneak preview of her upcoming play, The Homecoming of Joseph Grace. Supported by Meath County Council Arts Office.
Samhain Literary Pub Crawl
Location: The Samhain Hub, Kells, 8:30pm
Embark on the most cultural pub crawl ever! Visit three incredible pubs in Kells, where each stop will feature a local drink paired with food made from local ingredients, plus a literary reading from special guests. With a combination of literature, food, and drink, this evening is sure to be unforgettable.
Saturday, 9th November
The Cool Food School Kids Workshops
Time: Throughout the day
Bring the kids for fun, interactive workshops hosted by Deirdre Doyle, a multi-award-winning food educator. Kids will have a chance to cook, learn, and have fun, promoting healthy eating and food preparation in a playful environment.
Sheridans Irish Food Festival
Location: Eureka House, Kells, 10am – 6pm
The highlight of the weekend, the Sheridans Irish Food Festival, promises an incredible day filled with food, drink, and culture. Meet talented artisan food and drink producers from across Ireland, and explore Ireland's rich food heritage. Admission is €10 for adults (under 18s free), which includes access to cookery demos, kids' workshops, and children’s entertainment.
Special Guest Chefs at Sheridans Irish Food Festival:
- Darina Allen: Showcasing recipes that celebrate the humble egg.
- JP McMahon: Sharing stories and recipes from his new book, An Irish Food Story.
- Graham Herterich (The Cupcake Bloke): Presenting recipes from his book Cook.
- Michelle Darmody: Demonstrating recipes from her children's book Seed to Supper.
- Conor Spacey: Focusing on sustainable cooking and food waste reduction.
Kids Activities
Throughout the day, children can participate in The Cool Food School Workshops, funfair games, and other entertainment.
Seed to Supper – The Journey of Your Food from the Ground Up
Join author Michelle Darmody for a hands-on event where kids will learn about where their food comes from, plant seeds, and understand the journey of food from seed to plate. This event is free, but registration is required.
Hogans Farm Walk & Talk
Time: 12pm – 2pm
Experience an outdoor family event at Hogan’s Farm. Learn about their free-range Woodland Bronze Turkeys in a beautiful woodland environment. Afterward, visit their Farm Shop & Café to try their famous turkey products.
Forbidden Foods with Max Jones
Time: 3pm – 4:30pm
Join Max Jones of Up There The Last for a tasting session of ancient and forbidden foods. Discover fascinating stories behind these unique foods, and learn how traditional food preservation methods can inform the future of sustainable eating.
Feeding Knowledge: Nurturing a Deeper Connection with Our Food
Time: 5pm
In this panel discussion, experts like Darina Allen, Conor Spacey, and Dr. Michelle Darmody will explore the importance of food education and reconnecting children with where their food comes from. Moderated by Jacinta Dalton, this thought-provoking discussion will inspire new ideas for food sustainability and education.
Tasting the Landscape with John & Sally McKenna
Join renowned food writers John and Sally McKenna for a deep dive into the holistic art of cheesemaking in Ireland. This event will explore how cheesemakers embody the oneness of nature—bringing together animals, plants, and humans in a single landscape. You'll hear insights from some of Ireland's leading cheesemakers and engage in a cheese tasting paired with local cider or apple juice.
An Irish Food Story Cookery Demo with JP McMahon
JP McMahon will take you on a culinary journey inspired by his new book An Irish Food Story: 100 Foods That Made Us. He'll showcase recipes that narrate the evolution of Irish cuisine, examining its history, culture, and identity through food. The event promises an exploration of both traditional and unexpected ingredients, celebrating the richness of Ireland's culinary heritage.
A Tea Table Classic: Afternoon Tea and Exploring Tea Cultures
Enjoy an afternoon tea with authors Dr. Detta Melia and Dr. Ann T. Conway as they discuss the social and cultural significance of tea in Ireland and Europe. This event highlights tea's role as a symbol of hospitality, featuring a delicious traditional tea service.
Art Plate: An Immersive Food & Art Experience
Hosts Santina Kennedy and Blanca Valencia will guide you through four iconic Irish paintings from the National Gallery, brought to life through food and drink. You'll sample dishes inspired by these artworks, using modern Irish artisan produce to create an immersive experience connecting art, culture, and culinary traditions.
Pints of Plain: The Story of the Irish Pint
Ali Dunworth joins Eibhlin Colgan, Guinness archivist, to explore the story behind the Irish pint, focusing on its cultural significance and the global icon that Guinness has become. This conversation will include stories about pint culture in Ireland, and of course, participants will enjoy a pint of Guinness or Guinness 0.0.
Martry Mill Bread Baking Experience
Visit Ireland's oldest working watermill for a hands-on bread-baking class. Using flour freshly ground at Martry Mill, participants will learn about the history of milling and bake their own brown bread to take home, all while enjoying a tour and a demonstration of the mill’s traditional workings.
A Scoop & A Yarn: Samhain Special
Dive into Irish food storytelling with Scoop magazine editor Dee Laffan. This storytelling event will bring together diverse voices from the Irish food world to share personal stories and memories about food. A unique opportunity to explore the connections between food, culture, and community.
Sip & Savour: Boann Distillery Meets Boho Nibz
This guided tasting pairs award-winning Boann Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey with artisanal chocolates from BohoNibz. You’ll explore the complexities of Irish whiskey and how the unique flavours complement each other in this delightful pairing.
Staying Alive at 1.5: How Ireland Will Feed Itself in a Changed Climate
Journalist Philip Boucher-Hayes presents an in-depth discussion on how Ireland can sustain itself in the face of climate change, exploring food security and sustainability in a world affected by rising temperatures.
Kitchen Cocktails with Oisin Davis
Learn how to create cocktails using simple ingredients and no professional equipment with award-winning drinks writer Oisin Davis. He’ll demonstrate recipes from his book Irish Kitchen Cocktails and introduce local Irish spirits in this fun, interactive session.
Samhain Long Table Supper
This highly anticipated supper event celebrates Irish seasonal produce in a long-table format. You'll savour dishes made from the finest ingredients, telling the story of Ireland’s rich culinary landscape while celebrating community and connection.
Sunday, 10th November
Sheridans Irish Food Fair
Taking place on the beautiful grounds of Eureka House, the Sheridans Irish Food Fair will feature live cooking demos, artisan food and drink stalls, children’s workshops, and activities. Special guest chefs like Darina Allen and JP McMahon will showcase Irish culinary talent in action.
Killua Castle Farm Walk & Lunch
Enjoy a guided farm tour of Killua Castle, featuring its sustainable practices and rewilding area, followed by a delicious lunch from the Killua Castle Food Truck, showcasing their own locally sourced beef.
Sunday Sips: Exploring Irish Non-Alcoholic Drinks
Hosted by drinks expert Judith Boyle, this event will explore Ireland's thriving non-alcoholic beverage scene, with tastings of innovative drinks like kefir and botanical-infused alcohol-free spirits from local producers. Perfect for anyone curious about new, creative non-alcoholic options.
- 11-12pm The Cool Food School Kids Workshop *kids event*
- 12.30-1.30pm Cook: Traditional Irish Cooking with Modern Twists with Graham Herterich
- 2-3pm No Waste, All Taste: Mastering Vegetable Butchery with Conor Spacey
- 3.30-4.30pm The Cool Food School Kids Workshop *kids event*.
- Sunday Songs with Inspire Choral Group: Join the award winning Inspire Choral Group for some Sunday Songs to set you up for a great day at Samhain!
With so many exciting events, the Samhain Festival of Food & Culture promises a weekend full of food, culture, and community. Don’t miss out – book your tickets now for this epic celebration of Irish food and heritage! Find out more here.
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