Feile an Fhomhair 2026: Bilingual Autumn Festival in Carlow
Glór Cheatharlach are delighted to share the progamme for Féile an Fhómhair 2026 with you. Glór Chaeatharlach are celebrating their autumn bilingual festival with lots of Irish language events for all ages.
Some of this years highlights include:
Set Dancing Weekend
Autumn Walking weekend with Carlow Tourism
Family Fun Day
Irish language film for schools with Carlow IMC
Fun Table Quiz in Leabhair agus Lattes Ceatharlach
Schools table quizzes
Autumn Art Competition for schools
A week of fun bilingual autumn events from September 25th- October 4th!

Enjoy a free tour of fabulous tree collection in Altamont Gardens accompanied by one of their knowledgeable local guides.

Every Thursday in Teach Dolmain, join Carlow's'longest running traditional music sessions, featuring the very best of local musicians., from 9.30 onwards.

Friday nights in Carpenters belong to the karaoke king - Mick Reilly  
Come for the laughs, stay for the encore. 

Beyond the walls of the festival’s main venues, Samhain Festival 26 spills out across Carlow, bringing live music, traditional sessions, folklore, film and family fun to venues throughout the county.

The Carlow Beo! programme keeps the music flowing, with free gigs, talks and sessions at Teach Dolmain, The Irishmans Bar, Lamberts Coffee House, Tully’s Bar and Scraggs Alley. From the opening session at Teach Dolmain to the final session at Tully’s Bar, expect a lively celebration of Carlow’s traditional music scene, with local musicians and performers coming together throughout the festival.

For a different kind of Samhain story, head to Askea Community Centre for Béaloideas Oíche Shamhna / Halloween: Customs, Traditions and Games presented by historian and speaker Sarah Myers, bringing the traditions and tales of Halloween to life.

Over at Carlow Town Hall, settle in for a Movie Night in partnership with the Carlow Local Community Safety Partnership and funded by Healthy Carlow. Designed as a safe and welcoming Halloween experience for families, the evenings will feature spooky movies, Halloween decorations and seasonal treats. Costumes are encouraged, but spaces are limited, so advance booking is essential.

Then, over Halloween weekend, head into the countryside for the Big Barn Bash at Coppenagh Farm – a family farm experience celebrating Carlow’s winter harvest, with the high-speed thrill of the Coo Race and cosy coffee in the wood-heated barn.

From traditional tunes and tales to spooky cinema and farmyard fun, Samhain Festival 26 at Fringe Venues brings the Samhain spirit into the heart of the community.

This Samhain, VISUAL becomes a threshold between our world and the Otherworld.

As the ancient festival of Samhain comes to life and the veil between worlds grows thin, expect a spellbinding celebration of folklore, fire and fun. Discover the haunting tale of The Last Witch Bridget Cleary, gather around the flames for FIRE NIGHT featuring VolkiDána, enjoy the vibrant sounds of Úlla Búlla with Ríona Sally Hartman & band, the shimmering tones of Lemoncello and the wit, music and storytelling of Aindrias de Staic.

This Samhain, the Delta Sensory Gardens take on a gently haunted air as Ghosts in the Gardens transforms the tranquil paths into a landscape where nature and folklore entwine.

As autumn settles in, shadows lengthen, spirits stir and something might be waiting just around the corner. Wander among spooky yet family-friendly scenes, from ghostly brides and grooms to skeleton cyclists and eerie graveyards, with surprises waiting to be discovered along the way.

Ghosts in the Gardens invites visitors of all ages to explore at their own pace, taking in the sights, sounds and atmosphere of Samhain without the frights. Designed with a sensory-friendly experience in mind, it offers a safe and welcoming way to enjoy the magic and mystery of the season, with plenty of space to roam freely, pause and take in the surroundings.

This Samhain, step into the shadows of Duckett’s Grove, where centuries of history, folklore and ghostly tales come together beneath the towers of one of Carlow’s most atmospheric landmarks.

Join storyteller Danny McDaid for a ghostly guided tour through the grounds, delving into the legends, characters and eerie stories that linger around the ruins of this 17th-century Gothic mansion. Once home to the powerful Duckett family, the Grove has long been a place of strange happenings – from flickering lights and ghostly figures to unexplained footsteps echoing through the darkness.

As you explore, discover where fact and folklore entwine, bringing the history of Duckett’s Grove vividly to life. And as daylight fades, the atmosphere becomes even more mysterious, with the ruins illuminated by an eerie amber and crimson glow and haunting figures emerging from the gloom.

This Samhain, The Exchange becomes a place of fantasy, fire and Halloween adventure, with spectacular live entertainment and family-friendly fun for little ghosts, witches, vampires and goblins.

Step into another world with the spectacular Dragon Experience, a high-impact Halloween attraction combining live performance, dramatic visual effects and theatrical storytelling. Three live shows each day bring the dragon to life with a fully themed performance set, atmospheric lighting and sound, and fiery performance elements adding extra heat and excitement to the spectacle. After each show, meet the dragon and capture the moment with a dedicated dragon-themed photo opportunity.

Then, on Wednesday and Thursday, Active Carlow brings the Halloween fun to life with Halloween Games. Expect interactive games, colouring, dancing, face painting and plenty of spooky surprises, surrounded by creepy decorations and a lively Halloween atmosphere. Come dressed as your favourite Halloween character, make new friends and join in the fun.