Longford and Westmeath Hub hosts All-Island launch of Ireland, Home of Halloween 2026

Samhain in the Heartlands programme highlights and new map also unveiled

Longford and Westmeath County Councils in partnership with The Hill of Uisneach in Westmeath hosted  the all-island launch of the 2026 Ireland, Home of Halloween programme. Officiated at by Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment Peter Burke TD, the collaborative initiative is led by Fáilte Ireland, Tourism Ireland and Tourism Northern Ireland. Now in its second year, it celebrates the island's role as the birthplace of Halloween through festivals and visitor experiences inspired by ancient Samhain traditions, inviting visitors to connect with authentic Irish culture in the shoulder season.

Building on the success of 2025, when more than 22,000 people attended events across the Longford and Westmeath Hub, this year's local programme, titled Samhain in the Heartlands, will feature around 50 events across both counties.

The Longford and Westmeath Hub is one of seven designated Ireland Home of Halloween destinations for 2026 including Fingal, Galway, Kerry, Kilkenny, Limerick, and Meath and Louth operating alongside the flagship Púca and Derry Halloween festivals.

New programme highlights for the Longford and Westmeath Hub include a high end collaborative Spirit of Samhain Tasting Dinner with Lough Ree Distillery, Skellys Bar and Droimeann Beef; the Spooktacular Summoning at Dún na Sí, a new immersive masquerade food, culture and heritage event called “The Last Wake at Doory Hall”; the launch of a new Samhain Map of the region and a new Samhain Procession in Athlone.

The programme is being delivered by Longford County Council and Westmeath County Council in partnership with artists, cultural organisations, tourism operators, community groups, volunteers and local businesses.

Cathaoirleach of Longford County Council, Gerry Hagan, thanked all project partners for their continued support: “This is the second year of the Ireland Home of Halloween campaign and the response from tourism stakeholders across Longford and Westmeath has once again been phenomenal. Following the success of last year's programme, we look forward to an even stronger season in 2026.”

Food tourism will also form a key part of this year's programme, with several Longford food producers and vendors participating in a showcase at the launch to mark their participation in Ireland Home of Halloween 2026 activities on foot of Departmental Food Festival Funding.

Deputy Chief Executive of Longford County Council John Brannigan said: “We are extremely grateful to Fáilte Ireland and Tourism Ireland for the opportunity provided through this funding programme to create a strong shoulder-season tourism offering within Ireland's Hidden Heartlands. The guidance and support from the Fáilte Ireland Festivals and Events team throughout the process has been extensive and greatly appreciated.”

Launching the programme, Minister Peter Burke TD said: “Ireland Home of Halloween demonstrates how our unique culture and heritage can support the ambitions of Government tourism policy by driving sustainable growth across our regions and extending the tourism season.

“The success of the programme to date shows the significant potential of this initiative to attract visitors during the shoulder season. In 2025, the initiative generated more than €43 million in economic impact, delivering tangible benefits for local communities and tourism businesses across the island. By supporting businesses, creating employment opportunities and encouraging visitors to explore destinations across the island, the programme continues to deliver lasting benefits while showcasing Ireland as the authentic home of Halloween.”

The Ireland Home of Halloween initiative supported more than 830 events across Ireland in 2025, attracting over 322,000 domestic and international visitors and generating more than €43 million in economic impact.

The Hub also highlighted the wider tourism momentum now being seen across County Longford, including new tourism businesses supported through Fáilte Ireland's Regenerative Tourism and Placemaking Programme under the EU Just Transition Fund, and the launch of the new Visit Longford brand and website.

Longford County Council would also like to thank David and Angela Clarke, their family, and the team at Uisneach for graciously hosting the launch on behalf of the Hub.

***Further details of the Samhain in the Heartlands programme and individual event listings will be announced in the coming weeks through Longford County Council, Westmeath County Council and participating event organisers.***