With over 40 free activities and events, the Kerry Homecoming Festival at Halloween takes place from the 18th October to 1st November, making it the perfect opportunity to visit Kerry! Get ready for street spectacles, Jack-o-Lantern carving, heritage talks, star-gazing, live gigs, fireworks and much, much more!
When the veil between our world and the next grows thin, what better way to spend the season than at the Kerry Homecoming Festival with so many events suited for all tastes?
The festival’s centrepiece involves four specially commissioned street spectacle performances between October 29th and November 1st, with the performances being based on the legend of the Cailleach (Hag / Witch) who is the goddess of the winter months, whose season begins on Samhain, October 31st.
The spectacles will see the dramatic arrival of the Cailleach accompanied by drummers, performers and fire elements. During the festival, a selection of workshops and activities for both kids and adults are scheduled, with the finale of the Kerry Homecoming Festival being a Fireworks Display in Tralee on November 1st.
Spectacles, events and activities will take place all across Kerry, with plenty of dates available in each location to get involved! Here’s exactly what’s on:
Seasonal Festivals, Events & Activities
Music
Music lovers can head to Castle Island for the Patrick O’Keeffe Music Festival that boasts “Ireland’s biggest and best session trail” and an eclectic atmosphere.
Film
Film lovers should head for Killarney where the Kerry International Film Festival celebrates its 25th anniversary. Every year, KIFF reveals new talent with their comprehensive short film selections. The Kerry International Film Festival also screens a small but carefully considered number of feature films, narrative and documentary, very often with Q & A sessions afterwards.
Culture
For those yearning for a taste of traditional Irish Culture, Oireachtas na Samhna takes place in Killarney from October 30th – November 3rd. Thousands are expected to attend Ireland’s oldest Arts Festival, as established and emerging talents from the worlds of music, poetry, literature, debate and storytelling take part in 60 competitions showcasing the traditional arts.
Sport
The Tralee Half Marathon (13.1 miles) will bring the 2024 Tralee Marathon Series to a great end. The route starts in Tralee taking in the town of Ardfert, and running through the Spa and the Kerries. Why not bring the whole family to Tralee for the Bank Holiday Weekend and enjoy all that Tralee and Kerry has to offer; and at the same time run the Tralee Half Marathon!
National Circus Festival
Tralee is the place to be if you want to laugh, cry and marvel at the mind-boggling antics of The National Circus Festival as they gather talent from all over the country to amaze audiences with their incredible celebration of all things Circus!
Iveragh Peninsula
Visit the beautiful Iveragh peninsula in south Kerry for a weekend of fascinating talks and workshops on the period of change from the Stone Age and the Bronze Age in southwest Ireland, as a part of the Skellig Coast Archaeology Festival. Immerse yourself in the archaeology of this period with visits to stone rows and in situ rock art panels; experimental archaeology workshops; children’s workshops; and expert lectures.
Street Spectacles
All around the county, spectacle events will terrify and delight in equal measure as performers and carousers roam raucously around the towns and villages of Kerry! The spectacles will see the dramatic arrival of the Cailleach accompanied by drummers, performers and fire elements. The finale of the Kerry Homecoming Festival spectacles will include a Fireworks Display in Tralee on November 1st.
Street Spectacle Schedule:
| Location | Date | Time |
|---|---|---|
| The Boatyard Park, Dingle | Tuesday October 29th | 7pm |
| The Square, Listowel | Wednesday October 30th | 7pm |
| The Square, Kenmare | Thursday October 31st | 7pm |
| Denny Street, Tralee | Friday November 1st | 7pm |
Genealogy & Folklore
Join historian, educator, and journalist Tom Dillon as hosts a number of folklore and genealogy workshops during the Kerry Homecoming.
He will explores the rich folklore surrounding life’s key moments—births, deaths, and marriages along or if you are keen to lean more about Samhain, Tom will explore the ancient roots of Halloween in Ireland , as he reveals the folklore surrounding Samhain—the Celtic festival of spirits, myths, and supernatural encounters.
With a deep passion for his native County Kerry’s history, Tom has written and lectured extensively on local traditions and customs. As the Kerry County Council Historian-in-Residence in 2020 and 2021, Tom brings his expert knowledge to life in this engaging talk, blending folklore with history. Don’t miss this unique opportunity to learn from a graduate of the University of Limerick’s MA in History of the Family and a certified local historian.
All of these workshops are free, but you must reserve a place here.
Tour of the library
Join County Librarian Tommy O’Connor for an exclusive tour of the Tralee Library archives on October 19th, from 12:00 to 1:00 PM. Learn how to trace your ancestors and uncover your family history through the library’s rich collection of historical records.
The Kerry Library Local History and Archives Department is dedicated to collecting, preserving and making available for reference, material related to the printed history of County Kerry. A Guide to Family History Sources: Download HEREPDF File
The Kerry Library reference collection includes:
- Over 7,000 titles on Kerry and by Kerry authors (searchable on the library online catalogue here)
- Áitainmneacha Chiarraí/ Kerry Place Names Survey
- Periodicals including Kerry Archaeological and Historical Society Journal, Journal of the Royal Society of the Antiquities of Ireland, Cork Historical Journal.
- Map collection including 1st edition Ordnance Survey maps of Kerry (1841- 1842), Maritime Maps of Kerry (1861-1914), Godfrey Estate Survey Maps (1750-1825).
- 19th & 20th century Commercial Directories
- Index of obituaries from Kerry Newspapers.
- Dr. Albert Casey’s O’Kief, Coshe, Mang volumes
- Irish Life and Lore Collections: Oral History recordings in conversation with local historians, archaeologists, folklorists and storytellers detailing aspects of Irish life in times past. Details of available collections can be viewed on the library catalogue here.
- Local Historical Photographs including Lawrence and Eason Collections.
Global Gaelic Games Social Festival, Killarney
On the weekend of October 18th & 19th, Fitzgerald Stadium in Killarney will host the ultimate GAA extravaganza in the form of the Global Gaelic Games Social Festival.
This truly unique celebration Kerry GAA will bring together Gaelic Football enthusiasts from all corners of the globe. Whether you’re a social player in a club or with a group of friends, a retired seasoned player, or simply looking for an incredible weekend filled with excitement, this is the event you won’t want to miss.
Picture this: non-competitive 9-a-side Gaelic games that emphasize inclusiveness and integration, where ‘Mums and Gals’, ‘Dads and Lads’ come together to showcase their skills and build lasting connections.
Throughout the weekend, immerse yourself in the vibrant atmosphere of music, delicious food, and lively entertainment from bands and DJs. From the opening ceremonies to the after-party, every moment is designed to create memories that will last a lifetime.
You can book here but be warned – tickets are selling out fast!
Féile na Samhna – Bígí linn a chairde Chiarraí!
Halloween comes from an ancient Celtic festival called Samhain, which celebrates the end of the annual harvest season and the coming of winter – and the Kerry Homecoming Festival have prepared a fantastic lineup of Halloween inspired events and activities, kids included!
Jack-O-Lantern Carving & Samhain Mask Making
Believe it, or not, the custom of pumpkin carving at Halloween originated in Ireland! In ancient times however, we did not have pumpkins and in fact the lanterns, to ward off spirits trapped between two worlds, Jack in particular, used to be carved from root vegetables such as turnips, sugar beets and even potatoes.
Throughout the Kerry Halloween Homecoming Festival, The Dingle Druid, Julie will be presenting Jack-O-Lantern carving workshops, using the traditional sugar beet. These will also include mask-making from natural materials. Workshops are free and all materials will be provided.
Or, if you prefer a Samhain mask why not design your own carved face or Púca and create your natural mask using traditional techniques and natural materials?
Participants are also invited to bring their lanterns and masks along to any of the Samhain street spectacle events and become part of the cast. Admission is free for the all of these workshops however you must register to book your place via Eventbrite.
Storytelling
Irish storytelling is famed throughout the world, and for good reason! Well, where better to hear tales of the Tuatha Dé Danann, Tir na Nog and the Hag of Beara than in a place where their legend is enshrined in the landscape. Join us for a series of fireside storytelling sessions as the nights grow colder and the spirit of Samhain seeps into the air.
Niall de Búrca is coming to Tralee for a celebration of Samhain as part of the Kerry Homecoming Festival. Niall, a master seanchaí, brings ancient Irish tales to life with unmatched charisma and a deep connection to the wild west coast where he was raised. Join us for an enchanting evening that will transport you through centuries of folklore, captivating audiences of all ages with stories that have stood the test of time. Don’t miss this spellbinding event!
A second story teller, Sean O’Laoghaire is a goatherd and storyteller. Born and raised in Portmagee, Co. Kerry, He has worn many hats and has travelled many roads, listening, learning and laughing as he has travelled. Gather around for an enchanting evening of Samhain tales with Seán at Halloween in Waterville and Sneem whose unique blend of folklore, nature, and life wisdom captivates audiences of all ages. This family-friendly event brings adults and children together, just like sitting around the fireside, to explore the ancient myths and traditions of Samhain. Join us for an unforgettable night of storytelling as we celebrate the Celtic New Year!
These are all free events but reserve your place via Eventbrite HERE.
Childrens’ Art Workshops
The talented gang from Me and the Moon will also be bringing their inspiring childrens’ art workshops to Muckross House and Kerry County Museum, so sign up the little ones and let them express themselves by enjoying the creative process as much as the finished product!
Live Gigs
In addition to the extensive programme of events taking place as part of the Kerry Homecoming, there is a wide variety of music gigs taking place over the Halloween period.
Amble – October 25th
In only ten months, Amble have garnered over 135k monthly Spotify listeners and is fast approaching the 4,000,000-stream total, averaging over 30,000 streams a day. To date, Amble have sold out all shows. The unique perspective of three individual songwriters creates a peerless body of work that only enhances the now familiar ruminative observations on the world and, more pertinently – the stories unfolding each day within it.
Mack Fleetwood – October 19th
Europe’s premier tribute to the supergroup FLEETWOOD MAC, brings you on a magical musical journey from the Peter Green blues era to the multi-platinum selling band that still tours today. MACK FLEETWOOD bewitch their audience with authentic renditions of all your favourite classic FLEETWOOD MAC hits. Their love of the material and musical prowess shines through each song!
Kingfishr – October 26th
In 2 short years, they have racked up over 10 million streams on Spotify to date, were included in Spotify’s Fresh Finds UK & IE: Class of 2023 and began 2024 as Spotify RADAR: First Listen UK & IE Artists. The trio have started the year strongly, a festival performance at Eurosonic was quickly followed by eight sold-out headline shows across the UK and Ireland.
Kneecap – October 26th
Merging Irish with English, satire with socially conscious lyrics, and reality with absurdity, theirs is a voice which comes screaming from the too-often deprived areas of the North of Ireland, speaking in a language which is too-often ignored, and it makes for suitably electrifying stuff.
There seems to be no stopping their spectacular rise, with sold out tours in the US and UK and even bigger plans to come. Whether you understand half of what they’re saying or not, you won’t want to miss them…
David James Dance – October 27th
David James is 25 years old and hails from the small village of Killea Co.Donegal. He started performing at the tender age of 14 around the local pubs and clubs in counties Donegal/Derry & Tyrone. His live shows carry an infectious energy which has seen him win numerous awards such as ‘Irelands Best Young Entertainer’. In his short career he has even performed for Prince Harry & Duchess of Sussex Meghan Markle. David will be joined by the fantastic Ryan Turner Band for his performance.
All live gigs will take place at the Gleneagle INEC Arena Killarney, the largest music and multi purpose venue in Ireland outside Dublin, and Ireland’s only residential event centre.
Additional Information
The Kerry Homecoming Festival truly has something for everyone – each event and workshop has multiple listings available too, meaning its never been easier to take part!
All listings are subject to availability and change – please check the official festival website linked here for full details.
