Witching hour .... Bláthnaid launches 2017 Spirits of Meath Halloween Festival

Bláthnaid Ní Chofaigh, the Spirits of Meath Ambassador for 2017, has the first torch fire of Samhain in Athboy signalling the start of Halloween and the festival.   Halloween is reputed to have originated in Meath 3,000 years ago when the first fire of Samhain was lit on the Hill of Tlachtga near Athboy. From this sacred fire, torches were lit and carried to light fires all over the land signalling the start of Samhain, now called Halloween. 

Boyne Valley Tourism in Ireland’s Ancient East has re-enacted this ritual of lighting the first torch of Samhain.        

The Spirits of Meath Halloween Festival, now in its ninth year, offers families lots of fun and some slightly scary events during the day, and when the day time fun and frights stop the ‘Spirits of Samhain’ appear for those adults wanting to be scared out of their wits. This year the Spirits of Meath Halloween Festival will run from 7th October  to 5th November and will provide over 30 different events catering for all age groups and tastes.   Boyne Valley Tourism this week announced two new elements to this year’s festival;  Bláthnaid Ní Chofaigh is the Spirits of Meath Ambassador for 2017 and Athboy will host ‘Halloween HQ’ as part of the festival.

A first for the festival is ‘Halloween HQ’ in Athboy. This is an event created by the community of Athboy, with the support of Meath Arts & Heritage and Boyne Valley Tourism and will take place on 31st October  from 2pm until late in the evening.  Promising something for every age group, the ancient past meets the twenty-first century. This will include a re-enactment of the Celtic celebration on the Athboy Fair Green that involves Púcas & Potions pageantry portraying the history and origins of Samhain.  UCD School of Archaeology will also be there with an experiential archaeological workshop demonstrating a real time archaeological dig along with the process of iron crafts and bronzing.

 "Meath is in me, I am of Meath and always will be", the words of  Bláthnaid Ní Chofaigh who has been announced as Ambassador of the Spirits of Meath Halloween Festival 2017.  Bláthnaid also said “I am so honoured and thrilled to be chosen as Ambasador to a tradition that is ingrained in the people and in the land but also a festival that crosses all generations”.

Michele Whelan, Tourism Officer, Boyne Valley said: “Nine years ago in 2009, Boyne Valley Tourism along with the tourism trade created a special festival, the ‘Spirits of Meath Halloween Festival’, to honour the fact that Halloween originated in County Meath. With the help and support of all our members, tourism providers in the Boyne Valley area, each year the festival has grown in the number of events to choose from and the number of visitors it attracts to the Boyne Valley area, part of Ireland’s Ancient East.”
 
The full event programme and a downloadable Spirits of Meath Halloween Festival Brochure is available on www.spiritsofmeath.ie