Welcoming the Long Nights In-Roscommon Samhain Celebration 2026

A vibrant community Samhain celebration centred on creativity, heritage, and shared experience. The project begins with a series of inclusive lantern‑making workshops in Roscommon town, led by artists Orla Clogher and Angie Byrne. Working in partnership with Rathcroghan Visitor Centre, participants of all ages will explore local Samhain traditions, mythology, and landscape through lantern design, storytelling, and collaborative making.

The workshops culminate in a public lantern procession through Roscommon town, featuring newly made lanterns alongside sculptural works from previous years, a community drumming troupe, and professional fire performers. The procession celebrates creativity, place, and collective participation, reconnecting contemporary communities with seasonal tradition.

The wider programme includes Welcome the Long Nights In , a live performance event at Roscommon Arts Centre on 31 October. Inspired by the Rambling House, this phone‑free evening of song, music, story, dance, and seasonal piseogs will feature local artists, actors, and seanchaí, creating warmth, connection, and fun as winter begins.

The celebration will be professionally documented to support future promotion, helping grow a locally rooted Samhain festival that engages communities, welcomes visitors, and strengthens Roscommon’s cultural life.