Facilitated by multidisciplinary artist, Helen Keenan in partnership with Circle of Friends, Edenderry,  ‘Of Soul and Samhain’ project places a spotlight on Irish heritage, with a focus on ritual and remembrance through the lens of the Celtic season of Samhain, while incorporating key elements of related local heritage sites of significance. The project will see the delivery of 8 weeks of arts workshops in Edenderry, including  creative writing and visual arts workshops, with a focus on lantern and mask making. 

The project culminates in an outdoor exhibition of works created throughout the project, located at both Edenderry Square and Croghan Hill. The exhibition will include illuminated lanterns, thematic masks and sharing’s of creative writing, including projected poetry quotations and soundscapes. The exhibition will also include participatory activities as part of the interactive experience.

Using art as a gentle bridge, the project creates space for communal reflection on death, dying, grief, loss, memory, continuity, and hope — offering a shared cultural experience rooted in Irish tradition, celebrated and explored locally within the cultural and heritage context of County Offaly. 

The project is being developed with the support of the Irish Hospice Foundation.

Please note that the details of events listed above are provided by the relevant Local Authorities.