Féile na Samhna a great success for Gaelphobal Laoise

The inaugural Laois Irish language festival exceeded expectations for both attendance and, crucially, enjoyment, according to the organisers, Cumann Gaelach Chontae Laoise.

They say an estimated 200 people attended the various events held as part of Féile na Samhna 2026 in Portlaoise over the weekend of October 23 to 25. Topics of local and seasonal interest were prominent, including place names, the Celtic origins of Halloween and stories and music for children. This weekend concluded with an enjoyable ‘Oíche cheoil, amhránaíochta agus chomhrá’ in Tadgh Óg’s function room.

An Cumann Gaelach Laoise, which is the local branch of Conradh na Gaeilge, is approaching its first birthday this December. Consequently, the Halloween festival combined with its other activities, is viewed as a case of ‘ Tús maith, leath na hoibre’, i.e., a good start is half the battle. The Cumann has succeeded in creating additional local opportunities to empower Irish as a living language, ‘an teanga bheo’.

The festival was officially opened to a packed Parish Centre Port Laoise, by Cathaoirleach an Chumainn Siobhán Uí Chuinn. In welcoming those present, she said: “Tá an t-ádh linn go bhfuil an áit lán go doras”.#

Introducing the evening’s speaker, Dearbhla Ní Dhuinn, Siobhán highlighted two points of note firstly, that Dearbhla is a local Laois Irish speaker from Mountmellick and, secondly, that her address on ‘Logainmneacha’ connects with Conradh na Gaeilge’s campaign, ‘Athghaelú’, to renew original Gaelic place names.

The organisers said Dearbhla gave an inspiring insight into the rich history of original Gaelic place names connecting landscape, nature and people. She explained how a knowledge of Irish words, such as ‘Cluain’ which means meadow and ‘Ráth’ which means ring-fort, unlocks a door into a wonderful historical and linguistic experience.

Dearbhla explained that Laois is understood to have come from Loígis, the ancestral family of the O'Moores who claimed to be descendants of a member of the legendary Red Branch Knights. She concluded her talk with a reference to ‘Tír gan teanga, tír gan anam’ - a country without a language is a country without a soul.

Day two featured a colourful workshop on ‘Ceol agus Scéalaíocht’ for the children by Julie Anne de Brún in the Dunamase Arts’ Centre. Julie Anne is a primary school teacher who specialises in additional needs. From Moycullen in Co Galway, she was assisted by her puppet ‘Róise Rua’ who captivated all present.

Later that day the well- known Irish language writer, Réaltán Ní Leannáin, explained the Celtic origins of Halloween. The Runaí of An Cumann Gaelach Laoise, Tomás Ó Maolagáin, thanked Réaltán at the end. He said that he was particularly interested in her explanation of the origin of the Irish names for the seasons agus ‘go raibh sé thar a bheith suimiúil nach raibh ach dhá shéasúr in Éirinn blianta ó shin’.

On Sunday, the final day, Liam Ó Culbáird from the OPW gave a guided tour, as Gaeilge, of Emo House. Liam explained the origins of the house and guided the visitors through the ornate living areas. The tour included the housekeeping and servant quarters - a stark contrast to the upstairs.

Féile na Samhna concluded with a celebration of “ceol agus comhrá” in Tadgh Óg’s pub in Port Laoise. The night featured traditional Irish musicians, songs agus cáint ‘as Gaeilge’.

Siobhán Uí Chuinn thanked the musicians and singers and presenters of the events, as well as to the Parish Centre, the OPW, the Dunamaise Arts’ Centre, Tadhg Óg’s. She also praised the sterling voluntary work of Cumann Gaelach Laoise. Siobhán added that the Cumann is delighted to have achieved its main aim in bringing people together through the medium of Irish in an enjoyable way.

Dúirt sí: “An sprioc a bhí againn ná an Gaelphobal a thabhairt le chéile agus ócáid spraíúil thaitneamhach a chur ar fáil dóibh. Táimid iontach sásta mar Chumann Gaelach gur éirigh linn é sin a dhéanamh agus go raibh deiseanna ag muintir na háite, an Ghaeilge a chleachtadh, a labhairt agus a cheiliúradh le linn Féile na Samhna. Ní neart go cur le cheile”.