Samhain 2021

Date: Saturday 23rd & Sunday 24th October

Time: Saturday – 6pm – 9pm Sunday – 6pm – 9pm

Cost: £7.50 (under 2’s free)

 

**BOOKING ESSENTIAL @ ancarn.yapsody.com**

 

On Saturday 23rd and Sunday 24th October, Drumnaph Nature Reserve will come alive at night to celebrate the Celtic festival, Samhain. Samhain was celebrated by our Ancestors and it marked the end of the harvest and the beginning of the ‘Dark Half’ of the year. Many cultures around the world hold traditional celebrations with light at this time of year as the dark evenings draw in.

 

Young and old will be guided through the woods by fire and light to ensure you don’t go astray! We will be offering guided walks both bi-lingually & through Irish on the nights.

 

All those who venture into the woods will meet some enchanting characters along the way and enjoy storytelling, street performers and a fire show. Remember to wrap up warm and wear appropriate footwear for the journey. Don’t forget to bring your own lantern too.

 

This year, due to popular demand, we are delighted to be running Samhain over two nights to give you more time options, but we anticipate spaces will fill up fast.

 

We hope you will not miss this enchanting experience. There is no need to be afraid, the ancient fires of Samhain will protect you and remember, even the smallest light shines brightly in the darkness.

 

 

FAQs

What time does the experience start and finish?
The guided walks will take place between 6pm and 9pm at 30min intervals on both nights (last slot 8.30pm). Each guided walk will take approx. 1hr to complete. We would recommend that you arrive at least 30mins before your time slot allocation

 

Where does the experience take place?
This year your journey will begin at An Carn where you will be taken by bus to meet your guide for the evening at Drumnaph Nature Reserve. Parking facilitates are available at An Carn and we would recommend that you arrive at least 30mins before your time slot allocation. Due to Covid regulations we ask that all Adults & Children over 12 years old, wear a face coving while on the short bus journey to Drumnaph. This will ensure the safety of all participants, volunteers and performers.

 

Where do I book tickets?
Please book your tickets online at ancarn.yapsody.com.
There will be no tickets available on the gate.

 

Who is Samhain suitable for?

The experience is suitable for all ages, families, and groups alike. This experience is not suitable for wheelchair users, but all-terrain buggies are accessible.

 

Is there an Irish language option available?
Yes – there a number of slots available for guided walks in Irish ONLY. All other slots are bilingual.

 

Will Samhain go ahead in bad weather?
Samhain will still go ahead unless weather conditions are deemed unsafe for our visitors, staff and volunteers, in which that specific date will be cancelled. Please see our cancellation policy below.

 

What should I wear?
Please be aware that this is an outdoor autumn experience so please dress appropriately.

 

Are there toilet facilities?
Yes – there are toilets situated at the An Carn/An Coire building where the experience commences. There are also toilets situated near the carpark at Drumnaph Nature Reserve. NB: There are no access to toilets during the walk.

 

Will there be refreshments available?
Warm drinks and delicious, homemade refreshments will be available before and after your walk at An Croí Coffee House & Bistro (situated at An Carn car park)

 

Are there any Covid measures in place?

We ask visitors to follow PHA guidelines and wear a face covering or mask where staying 2 metres apart from people is difficult. If you must cough or sneeze, please do so into your elbow, not into your hand or into the air. There are also a number of hand-sanitizing stations available to support the hand hygiene guidelines. Face Coverings MUST be worn on the shuttle bus journey (5mins approx.)

 

Cancellation Policy

Carntogher Community Association reserves the right to cancel any nights of Samhain for any reason deemed necessary for the safety and well-being of our visitors, staff and volunteers including unsafe weather conditions.

 

In the event of a cancellation of Samhain, attendees will be notified at the earliest convenience by email to the email address used to book the tickets. It is the responsibility of the attendees to check their emails before departing for Samhain to check for any updates and to make sure email addresses are correctly entered when booking tickets.

 

In the event of a cancellation, attendees will be given a full refund which they will receive within 10 working days maximum of the cancelled date.

 

Carntogher Community Association accepts no responsibility for a customer’s inability to attend Samhain due to any external factor including but not exclusive to traffic restrictions, illness, weather conditions etc.

 

Carntogher Community Association reserves the right to change or update event timings and content up to and on the day of the event.