MACHA ALIVE

14/05/2026

One day extra to send your proposals for this year's festival.
We are looking to see and hear more from people who have a story to tell!
There are sooo many stories still buried that are calling to come out to the light, if you know anyone who might be holding a message, a story or even a unique experience in relation to Emain Macha, the bodies of water around it and/or about Macha, please email me to:
[email protected]
We've received some interesting projects and would love for the local community to have more involvement, so please share this far and wide 🌱

If you've already sent us an email, I'll get in touch soon :).
Here you have a little video from one of the speakers from last year.
Thank you Caroline for being part of Macha Alive in many ways 🙏🏽

25/04/2026

💧🔥Macha Alive 2026🔥💧
Macha Alive is a non-profit, grassroots, one-day festival for those inspired by Macha, Emain Macha, and the Spirit of the Land.
Each year, we gather to immerse ourselves in stories long forgotten, and those still alive—quietly waiting to be remembered by us.

Macha Alive is a meeting place, a renaissance of knowledge and the wisdom of the land.

Through music, visual arts, talks, archaeology, performance, and living connections, we find our way—back to the root🌱
This year marks the completion of a trilogy that began in 2024.
For three years, each gathering has been guided by a theme—and we feel this one will be especially moving… 🥹though for now, it will remain a secret a little while longer.

So… are you inspired in your own work or experience by the heart of Macha, be it land, water, fire, or the stories that rise from them?
If you have an idea, project, or talk you’d like to share with the community, we’d love to hear from you—send your proposal to [email protected].
Deadline: May 13th 🌕
And if there’s someone you’d love to see at Macha Alive, tag them below.

Please share far and wide 🔥
Just keep in mind that the fest is self funded by ticket sales. Up until now we’ve had the support of many to make this happen. We don’t receive any funding (but open to sponsors 🐦✨) all is done for the love of it 🙏🏽

We need these stories to be alive for us and for the ones behind us.

Macha Alive Fest
Saturday, November 7th 2026
Ard Mhacha
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22/11/2025

Cold night calls for a story 🔥Hawthorn and Stone telling of a story he crafted 🙏🏽 Macha keeps on giving through the wholeness of creatives, academics and community!
Thanks Danny 🥹

21/11/2025

Fun fact 🐦‍⬛Jenny Butler was the very first person I reached out last September to be part of Macha Alive, that morning, I got a message back with a big ‘yes’ and the rest is history!
Jennys is not only the kindest person but she also posses tons of knowledge and wisdom.
She did a Ted Talk this October, here it is for you 🐦‍⬛

This talk reveals how the modern celebration of Halloween originates in the ancient Irish festival of Samhain. Through folklore, myth, seasonal rituals, and ...

13/11/2025

That’s it for Macha Alive, Wild & Sovereign.

From the minute the tickets sold out, we could sense that something big was going to happen. Our dream for Macha turned into something more that we could have wished for.

Thank you, thank you, thank you.

To all who gave so freely of their time, energy and creativity to craft talks, stories, musical performances and artwork. The depth of your talents is outstanding.

To everyone who bought a ticket and participated with such enthusiasm. It was you who brought so much joy and warmth. The atmosphere in the room was magical.

And a heartfelt thanks to Aonach Mhacha - the symbolisim of our old fire station holding the energies of the Goddess was felt by all. Your light was shining across Ard Mhacha on Saturday. It felt like a new flame was ignited when Macha and Brigid met again, the Goddess energies interwoven with a new mythology. Go raibh míle maith agaibh Gearóid and Luíseach - we are so grateful for everything you did to help us 🔥

This was for Macha

As the seasons turn, now it’s time to rest.

Le meas agus grá mór / with respect and love

The Macha Alive council x

Laura, Eva and Ciara

📸 Nicki Kennedy Photography

12/11/2025

Macha Alive was a festival for community, creativity and remembrance. We have so much grá & gratitude for the artists who brought their imbas and those who helped bring it all together:

1 & 2. Maria Johnston artist - Maria’s two Macha horse portraits were on the stage https://www.facebook.com/share/1BNTho1jgc/?mibextid=wwXIfr

3 & 4 Seanfitzgeraldart Sean brought his amazing prints and books. His Macha portrait was on stage last year

5. Cáit O’Neill offered an audio recording of a poem from her Macha’s Race album https://tinyurl.com/5cyb6mfe

6. Roisin O’Donnell’s gorgeous lino prints https://sl1nk.com/xAIOS

7. Our Leila Barnett and her headbands and brooches

7. Fíonnbar Macaoídh with his amazing woodwork and paintings

This festival was not funded - it was your ticket sales that made it happen so thank you

We had our two Pete’s. Pete Hosier, master of stage management who brought the vision to life.

And Peter McKenna, our dear friend who was our eyes and ears on the ground, carrier of heavy things and bringer of sheepskins and kindness.
We were given kind donations of drinks from McIvors Cider and money from School Web Design.

Peter Hosier gifted us the wristbands as well as so much time and The Charlemont Arms Hotel gave a discount to our artists. Louise McHugh did the ticket desk and handed out our acorns. ED Academy of Singing gave us the stands for the beautiful handmade banner which was sewn by Ciara McHugh - Energy Healer & Coach (textile artist turned Priestess!). Navan Fort Centre kindly lent us the beautiful Macha banner for the stage which was crafted by Eimear Fox. Laura Belton’s logo artwork was projected on the stage. We were incredibly lucky that sound engineer David Meade Sonic systems could join us and make the music sound out of this world.

Thank you to Aonach Mhacha for your belief and support.

Photos were by Nicki Kennedy Photography who even picked up the Palestine Cola and delivered it the day before. First two images by Treacy O'Connor

Buíochas as an beannacht mór, x

Macha Alive council

11/11/2025

How amazing are these photos? Thank you so much Nicki Kennedy Photography 🤗

11/11/2025

A chaidre, Macha Alive was a dream that came true. To all who attended and took part - thank you with all our hearts for making it so beautiful.

Here are some images of the speakers, performers and musicians who took to the stage.

Note the drastic improvement in photo quality after 5pm - thanks to the wonderful Nicki Kennedy Photography who joined us.

We’ll share more gratitude and images as the week goes on but for now lets plant these memories like we’ll plant our acorns

And please tag anyone we’ve missed!

Grá mór x

Macha Alive council

Photos

1. The Armagh Rhymers and Ciara McHugh - Energy Healer & Coach after the opening ceremony
2. Poem by Ann Vallely Armagh Rhymers
3. Artist Maria Johnson speaking about her Macha portraits
4. Lauren Carberry O’Neill
5. Carolyn Cairns
6. Treacy O'Connor
7. Danny Fagan Hawthorn & Stone
8. Donna Fox Tours
9. Matt McCullough
10. Gráinne Holland Music
11. Brian Finnegan and the Hunger of the Skin band
12. The Breath
13. The Armagh Rhymers closing with the Loughnashade horn



Aonach Mhacha

10/11/2025

✨MACHA ALIVE 2025✨is over 🥲!
We are still processing what took place this past Saturday here in Ard Macha 🐦‍⬛.
We’ll get back to all the people who have reached out with your outpouring of love!

Please keep an eye on these grid as we will share the highlights of the day + our gratitudes to all who made *wild + sovereign* a reality 🌑

In the meantime…a thousand thanks to you all😭- Go raibh míle maith agat 🤍🌌🌌🌌🤍