Samhain Festival Kells

10/09/2026

𝐌𝐞𝐞𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐡𝐞𝐟: 𝐆𝐫𝐚𝐡𝐚𝐦 𝐇𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐡 🧁

Graham aka ‘The Cupcake Bloke’ has been a famous face around Samhain Festival of Food & Culture, serving up style at our Long Table Supper alongside chef Jess Murphy of Kai Galway last year.

His ‘Coole Swan’ dessert amazed our dinner guests and it was one of the most talked about moments of Samhain Festival 2026!

Graham has recently been awarded the title of Blas na hÉireann Producers’ Champion, where he was recognised by producers across Ireland for his unwavering support of local, independent and sustainable food.

We are thrilled to be welcoming Graham back to Kells for Samhain Festival 2026. Don’t miss out on Graham’s “Icons of Afternoon Tea” experience at our new venue, Headfort House.

📆 Saturday 7th November
⏰ 3pm
📍 Headfort House
🔗 Book your tickets now at: https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/icons-of-ireland-afternoon-tea-with-graham-herterich-tickets-1993015955373
🔎 Discover more events at: foodcultureireland.ie

The Centre of Food Culture Ireland The Bakery by The Cupcake Bloke

07/09/2026

Take a step back into the past and learn all about the ancient art of printing in the newly renovated Kells Printing Works

Re-opened in June 2026, the building now acts as a heritage, tourism, and creative industry hub that you can take a tour of across Samhain Festival weekend!

Join Loreto Guinan, Heritage Officer at Meath County Council and Mark Smith, Kells Printing Works’ Creative Associate, and listen to the fascinating story of the revamped Kells Printing Works.

Find out about the wonderful paper collection and its painstaking conservation, catch the Last Dance poster exhibition, and hear the fascinating stories behind the newly restored Victorian printing presses.

📆 Saturday 7th & Sunday 8th November
⏰12pm
📍 Kells Printing Works
🔗 Book your tickets now
Saturday Tour: https://tinyurl.com/printing-tour-sat
Sunday Tour: https://tinyurl.com/printing-tour-sun
🔎 Discover more events at: foodcultureireland.ie

The Centre of Food Culture Ireland

03/09/2026

𝐖𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐰𝐡𝐲 𝐮𝐧𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐝 𝐰𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐞𝐚𝐭 𝐬𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐭 𝐒𝐚𝐦𝐡𝐚𝐢𝐧? 𝐎𝐫 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐛𝐞𝐚𝐧𝐬 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐥𝐥 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐮𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐚 𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩?

In this special Red Chapel event, Ann Marie Duffin of Bia Duit, and host Shaun Lavelle explore the role that food plays in Irish folklore, mythology and calendar customs, with a particular focus on Samhain and the end of the harvest.

Bia Duit is a digital project exploring the history, heritage and traditions of Irish food, uncovering the stories behind what we eat and how we remember it.

From foods used for divination and fortune-telling, to the beliefs, superstitions and customs surrounding food at this important point in the Irish calendar, the discussion will delve into the rich folklore connected to what we eat. It will also consider how folklore can help uncover, understand and preserve Ireland’s food heritage.

The talk will be accompanied by food from chef James Gabriel Martin, and a pairing drink inspired by traditional Samhain and seasonal dishes.

📆 Saturday 7th November
⏰4pm
📍 The Red Chapel
🔗 Book your tickets now at: https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/bia-duit-live-food-and-folklore-at-samhain-with-james-gabriel-martin-tickets-1998542864507
🔎 Discover more events at: foodcultureireland.ie

This event is part of the Samhain Festival 2026 programme at the Red Chapel, kindly sponsored this year by &Smyth

The Centre of Food Culture Ireland biaduit And Smyth

01/09/2026

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐋𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐓𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐒𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐫: 𝐀 𝐡𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐒𝐚𝐦𝐡𝐚𝐢𝐧 𝐅𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐥 𝐨𝐟 𝐅𝐨𝐨𝐝 & 𝐂𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞

The annual Long Table Supper dining experience is designed to bring people together and to celebrate a shared love of good food and quality ingredients.

This year’s supper is extra-special as we forge friendships across Europe. As part of Ireland’s EU Presidency, County Meath has been paired with Italy, a country that is famed for its world-class cuisine and rich, ancient history - similar to ourselves here in County Meath!

And so, to honour our cultural connections with our Italian counterparts, this year’s Long Table Supper will be created by the inspiring mind of chef Luca Grasselli. Luca is a second-generation steward of Cascina Lago Scuro, a working organic farm and guesthouse in Lombardy.

We are so excited to welcome Chef Luca and his team to Ireland for this incredible event. Together, they will bring an exceptional combination of the finest Italian ingredients, specially sourced from Italy for this unique dining experience, alongside the very best of our own incredible Irish produce.

Tickets for this year’s Long Table Supper will be available on our website on 𝗧𝗵𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝟯𝗿𝗱 𝗦𝗲𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿, so mark your calendars because you don’t want to miss out on the chance to attend this year’s Italian rendition of our Long Table Supper

📆 Saturday 7th November
⏰ 8pm
📍 Headfort Arms Hotel
🔎Discover more events at: https://foodcultureireland.ie/samhain/samhain-tickets/

The Centre of Food Culture Ireland Headfort Arms Culture Ireland Department of Culture, Communications and Sport

31/08/2026

Real wine. Real cheese.

Join Kevin Sheridan and Enrico Fantasia at a special raw cheese & natural wine tasting in the beautiful surroundings of the "Robert Adam Eating Parlour" in Headfort House.

Throughout the tasting, Kevin and Enrico will guide you through each pairing, sharing their knowledge and passion for Irish raw milk cheese and natural Italian wine while answering your questions along the way.

This year, there’s a special connection to celebrate. County Meath is strengthening its connection with Italy as part of Ireland’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union - bringing together two cultures that share a serious love of food, tradition, community and gathering around the table.

So come along, bring your friends and make a weekend of it!

📆 Friday 6th November
⏰7pm
📍 Headfort House
🔗 Get your tickets at: https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/raw-natural-exploring-irish-raw-milk-cheeses-and-natural-wines-tickets-1993015284366
🔎Discover more events at: https://foodcultureireland.ie/samhain/samhain-tickets/

&Natural The Centre of Food Culture Ireland Sheridans Cheesemongers

28/08/2026

Step into the spirit of Samhain Festival of Food & Culture and discover the stories, and traditions that have shaped Ireland’s rich food heritage.

The Icons of Ireland Afternoon Tea is a celebration of the tastes that have become part of our national story; with each inspiring creation offering a taste of Ireland’s culinary past, present and future.

Set within one of Ireland's finest Georgian country houses, the renowned Headfort House will welcome guests to the beautifully restored “Robert Adam Eating Parlour”, the only surviving dining room of its kind in Ireland.

Hosted by renowned author and chef Graham Herterich, whose passion for Ireland’s food heritage brings these stories to life, The Icons of Ireland Afternoon Tea is a festival experience unlike any other, so don’t miss out!

Take your seat, savour every bite and join Graham as he explores the produce, places and flavours behind some of Ireland’s most iconic food traditions.

Gather your friends and join us for an afternoon where food, storytelling and Irish culture come together.

📆 Saturday 7th November
⏰ 3pm
📍 Headfort House
🔗 Book your tickets now at: https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/icons-of-ireland-afternoon-tea-with-graham-herterich-tickets-1993015955373
🔎Discover more events at: https://foodcultureireland.ie/samhain/samhain-tickets/

The Centre of Food Culture Ireland The Bakery by The Cupcake Bloke

27/08/2026

𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐠: 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐇𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐞 ✨

A new venue for 2026, Headfort House will host a number of our most exciting events at this year’s Samhain Festival of Food & Culture .

Located just 5 minutes from the centre of the festival action in Kells Town, Headfort House is one of Ireland’s great Georgian houses.

Built in the 1770s for Thomas Taylour, 1st Earl of Bective, the true treasure of the house is within a suite of state rooms decorated by Scottish architect Robert Adam.

The Eating Parlour is the only significant body of Adam’s work that exists in Ireland and it is in this Parlour that we will be hosting some festival-favourite guests and events!

This year’s Headfort House events are now LIVE on our website, so grab your tickets now!

🔎 Discover more events at: https://foodcultureireland.ie/samhain/samhain-tickets/

The Centre of Food Culture Ireland

25/08/2026

24/08/2026

Killua Castle: A haven for sustainability and gastronomy

Explore the beautiful grounds of Killua Castle from the comfort of the Killua Wagon, enjoy a guided tour of the farm and be enthralled by their passion for history, environmental conservation, regenerative farming and gastronomy.

After the tour, indulge in a delicious lunch of burgers made from the famous Killua Castle Food Truck.

A vegetarian option will also be available if requested in advance.

📆 Sunday 8th November
⏰ 11am
📍 Killua Castle
🔗 Book your tickets now at: https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/killua-castle-farm-walk-lunch-tickets-1998489490865
🔎Discover more events at: https://foodcultureireland.ie/samhain/samhain-tickets/

The Centre of Food Culture Ireland Killua Castle