Samhain – a night to celebrate the ancient Celtic tradition of Halloween with live Irish music, dancers, and stories from the Shanachie.

The Irish Australian Support Association of Queensland in partnership with the

Embassy of Ireland, Canberra and The Tivoli, Brisbane presents Samhain.

Dressing up in costumes and trick-or-treating are popular Halloween activities, but

few probably associate these light-hearted traditions with their origins in Samhain, a three-day ancient Celtic pagan festival that originated in Ireland. For the Celts, who lived during the Iron Age, Samhain (meaning literally, in modern Irish, “summer’s end”) marked the end of summer and kicked off the Celtic new year. 

The Festival of Samhain marked the end of the Celtic year and the beginning of the new one and as such can be seen to the equivalent of New Year's Eve. With this in mind, Samhain is a night of celebration as we look towards the final part of 2021. 

After a hugely successful event last year, the Irish Australian Support Association are proud to present this year’s Samhain event. Join us on Sunday, 31st October from 4pm for an evening to celebrate the Celtic roots of Halloween with live Irish music from Sasta, Irish dancers and stories from the Shanachaí. (A seanchaí is a traditional Gaelic storyteller/historian.) The event kicks off at 4pm with family friendly kid’s activities. We’ll be recreating the Irish childhood games of bobbing for apples and trick or’ treating. Sasta will then kick off the show at 5pm which will consist of live music mixed with old Irish Halloween stories. 

This event is inclusive of all gender-identities, ages and cultures. Bring along family and friends to celebrate Samhain, the ancient Celtic tradition of Halloween.