What happens when you bring together Irish language, traditional music, local history, nature, food, crafts, wellbeing and a good bit of community spirit?
You get Féile Siamsa Glas.
Taking place along the Boyne Valley to Lakelands Greenway from 11th to 13th September 2026, Féile Siamsa Glas is a celebration of Irish culture and the natural landscape, with a packed programme of events taking place in and around Baile Ghib, Wilkinstown, Kilmainhamwood, Nobber, Castletown and beyond.
There is something for practically every age and interest, from family-friendly treasure hunts and children's workshops to traditional music, cycling, heritage talks, biodiversity walks, bread making, Irish dancing and live performances. Many of the events also offer a chance to enjoy the Boyne Valley to Lakelands Greenway and the surrounding countryside, making it the perfect weekend to slow down, get outdoors and experience this part of the Boyne Valley in a different way.
Whether you speak Irish fluently, know a few words or simply want to hear more of the language in everyday settings, Féile Siamsa Glas is an opportunity to get involved, have fun and experience the area through its language, landscape and people.
New events are being announced all the time, including all of the events below.
Tóraíocht Taisce ar an Greenway – Greenway Treasure Hunt
11th to 13th September | 10am to 4.30pm | Kilmainhamwood
Start your Siamsa Glas weekend with a family adventure along the Boyne Valley to Lakelands Greenway.
The Greenway Treasure Hunt uses Irish-language clues to encourage families to explore the area "as Gaeilge" while discovering more about the landscape and its railway heritage.
Maps can be collected from G'N'R Café in Kilmainhamwood during the event. Along the route towards Whitewood Lake, families will have opportunities to identify and draw plants and trees while learning more about the old railway. And there is a particularly nice reward waiting at the end: participants who complete the treasure hunt can enjoy a free ice cream from G'N'R Café.
Find out more HERE!
Ceardlann Bodhráin – Bodhrán Workshop for Kids
Friday 11th September | 5pm to 6pm | Halla Bhaile Ghib
Give younger festival-goers the chance to get to grips with one of Ireland's most recognisable instruments.
Led by Shay Casserly, this fun and supportive bodhrán workshop focuses on rhythm, confidence and, most importantly, enjoying yourself while learning. The workshop is suitable for children with additional needs and is designed to provide an inclusive and welcoming environment.
€7 | Booking through Alison: 087 289 2304
Find out more HERE!
Bodhrán Workshop for Adults – Ceardlann Bodhráin do Dhaoine Fásta
Friday 11th September | 6pm to 7pm | Halla Bhaile Ghib
The bodhrán isn't just for the younger members of the family.
Following the children's session, adults can take part in their own workshop and learn the basics of playing the traditional Irish drum.
Whether you're completely new to the bodhrán or simply want to give it a try, this is a chance to learn in a relaxed festival setting.
Find out more HERE!
Friday Soulful Reset – Athnuachan an Ama an Aoine
Friday 11th September | 7pm to 9.30pm | Baile Ghib
After a busy week, Friday evening is a chance to slow down.
Tara's Friday Soulful Reset combines gentle movement, breathwork, meditation, a mini sound bath and rahanni healing in a relaxed studio setting in Gibbstown.
It is a quieter side of the festival, offering an opportunity to switch off and ease into the weekend.
Find out more HERE!
Folchta Fuaime Ceilteach – Celtic Soundbath
Friday 11th September | 8pm to 10pm | Balsaw, Wilkinstown
Sold out
Irish sound and music artist Fiona Guiheen brings a Celtic influence to this meditative sound bath. Designed around soothing sounds and songs, the experience focuses on relaxation, stress reduction and mental clarity.
This event is already sold out, but its inclusion in the programme highlights the wonderfully varied nature of Siamsa Glas, where traditional Irish culture meets contemporary approaches to wellbeing.
Find out more HERE!
Storytelling and Music with Julie Anne
Saturday 12th September | 10am to 11am | Halla Bhaile Ghib
A morning for little ones and their families.
This workshop is aimed at children under eight and combines storytelling, rhymes, singing, dancing and percussion for an hour of interactive family entertainment.
It's a lovely way to introduce children to music, stories and Irish culture in a fun environment where they can join in rather than simply watch.
Booking: Alison on 087 289 2304
Find out more HERE!
Guided Tours of Nobber Heritage Centre
Saturday 12th September | 10am to 4pm | Nobber Heritage Centre
Spend some time discovering the history of Nobber and the surrounding Boyne Valley at Nobber Heritage Centre.
The centre provides an insight into the area's local history, culture and heritage and will also serve as one of the festival's central venues, including the opening cultural concert later that evening.
If you're exploring the Greenway during the weekend, Nobber is an ideal place to stop, explore and learn more about the community and landscape around you.
Find out more HERE!
An Rith Glas – The Green Run 5km
12th and 13th September | 10am to 11am | Park Beo Greenway Hub
Fancy getting out into the fresh air? Fiáin Run Club is inviting everyone to take part in a relaxed 5km Green Run along the Boyne Valley to Lakelands Greenway.
There is no pressure on pace and no expectation to be an experienced runner. The emphasis is simply on getting outdoors, moving at your own speed and enjoying the surroundings.
There may even be a few words of Gaeilge along the way, plus refreshments and a few surprises.
Everyone is welcome.
Find out more HERE!
Kids Pottery Painting Workshop
Saturday 12th September | 10.30am to 12.30pm | The Old Storehouse, Kilmainhamwood
Young artists can get creative with Clodagh from Darych Designs, painting and personalising their very own mug.
Once the workshop is finished, the mugs will be professionally fired before being returned to GNR Café approximately one week later for collection.
It's a hands-on activity that gives children the chance to experiment with colour and design while creating something they can actually take home and keep.
€22 per child, including the mug, materials and firing.
Find out more HERE!
History of the Tailteann Games with Gerry O'Brien
Saturday 12th September | 11am to 12pm | Bóthar Thailteann, Domhnach Phádraig
Ever wondered where the name of the Navan GAA grounds comes from?
This free talk with Gerry O'Brien explores the history of the Tailteann Games, an important part of Ireland's sporting and cultural heritage.
It's an interesting opportunity to discover the story behind a name that many people in the area will know, but perhaps not know the full history of.
Free registration.
Find out more HERE!
Turas Rothar Teaghlaigh & Picnic – Family Bike Ride & Picnic
Saturday 12th September | 11.30am to 12.30pm | Park Beo Greenway Hub
Bring the family and hop on the Greenway for an easy-going 8km cycle.
The route heads 4km from Park Beo towards Castletown before taking a short break and returning along the same safe route.
Once back at Park Beo, there will be time to relax, enjoy the festival atmosphere and tuck into a well-earned picnic. The Park Beo Outdoor Café will also be open for treats and ice cream.
Don't have bikes? Feel Good Bicycles provides bike hire at Park Beo, making it easy to join in even if you don't have your own wheels.
Remember that all participants must bring and wear a bike helmet and hi-vis vest.
To book: info@parkbeo.ie or 046 905 4134, option 4.
Find out more HERE!
Maker & Bakers Market
Saturday 12th September | 12pm to 4pm | Wilkinstown Community Centre
Support local makers, bakers and small businesses at this free community market.
With more than 20 local stalls, it's a great opportunity to browse handmade goods, pick up something tasty and meet some of the people creating and producing locally.
There will also be a pottery wheel turning demonstration at 2pm.
Free entry and everyone welcome.
Find out more HERE!
'Save the Last Dance' Railway Drama
Saturday 12th September | 1.30pm to 2pm | Wilkinstown Village, The Platform
Sunday 13th September | 1.30pm to 2pm | Kilmainhamwood Platform
The railway plays a central role in the history of this part of the Boyne Valley, so it is fitting that the local railway platforms once again become stages for a piece of outdoor theatre.
Sharon Carroll and the Yellow River Drama Group return for their third year with Save the Last Dance, following previous productions The Journey and For the Love of Ledwidge.
This year's story takes audiences back to the swinging 1960s in Wilkinstown, where excitement is building around the arrival of a new showband at the local hall.
Local ladies working in Navan Carpets are in for a surprise when Johnnie Burke returns from New York looking particularly stylish. But what exactly does he have planned?
There will be two free outdoor performances, one on Saturday at Wilkinstown and one on Sunday at Kilmainhamwood.
Seating is limited, so arrive early.
Find out more HERE!
Herbal Workshop
Saturday 12th September | 2pm to 5pm | Halla Bhaile Ghib
Discover more about the plants growing around us with local herbal expert Bridget Rooney.
This hands-on workshop will explore native herbs, their place in Irish history and the ways our ancestors traditionally identified, prepared and used them. There will also be demonstrations of how to make an oil and a tincture.
€30 per person, including tea and a scone. Places are limited. Contact Bridget on 085 142 3153 for information and booking.
Find out more HERE!
Wet Felt Flower Brooch Workshop
Saturday 12th September | 2pm to 4pm | The Old Storehouse, Kilmainhamwood
Spend an afternoon learning the traditional craft of wet felting with felt artist Caoimhe.
Participants will use wool and recycled fabrics to create their own unique flower brooch, choosing from a range of colours and learning the process of wet felting along the way.
A lovely option for anyone who enjoys making something with their hands and taking home something completely unique.
€25 per person | Adult only
Contact 083 183 2045 for tickets.
Find out more HERE!
Bread Making with James Tallon
Saturday 12th September | 3pm to 5pm | Martry, Kells
Step inside one of Ireland's oldest working watermills for an afternoon centred around one of the simplest and most satisfying foods: bread.
Martry Mill is one of Ireland's few working watermills and has a long history of milling and traditional food production. The experience with James Tallon combines food heritage with hands-on learning.
Expect tea, coffee and bread tasting, a talk about the history and craft of milling, a guided tour and milling demonstration, followed by a bread-baking session using freshly milled flour.
And yes, you'll get to take your own loaf home.
Martry Mill is also featured by Discover Boyne Valley as a local food experience, making this a particularly fitting event for a festival celebrating food heritage, local traditions and connection to the land.
Find out more HERE!
Castletown Tidy Towns Greenway Walk
Saturday 12th September | 4pm to 5pm | Castletown, Kilpatrick
Slow the pace down and explore the Greenway on foot with the Castletown Tidy Towns Greenway Walk. It's an opportunity to enjoy the surrounding landscape, meet others in the community and see this section of the Greenway from a different perspective.
Find out more HERE!
Music, Craic and Chat in Finns
Saturday 12th September | 5.30pm to 11.30pm | Finns Pub, Castletown
As the afternoon turns into evening, the music continues at Finns Pub in Castletown.
Expect a traditional music session, plenty of craic and a relaxed local atmosphere. After a day spent walking, cycling and exploring, this is the kind of evening that reminds you that Irish culture is as much about people gathering together as it is about history and heritage.
Find out more HERE!
Ciorcal Croí Oscailte – Open Heart Circle
Saturday 12th September | 6.30pm to 8.30pm | Park Beo Greenway Hub
As the sun begins to set over the Greenway, Nicole of Cnoc na Chroí invites participants to join an open-hearted gathering in nature.
The session includes a cacao ceremony, journaling, movement and meditation, creating a grounding and reflective experience beneath the open sky.
€30 | Booking required. To book, text Nicole on 085 274 4141.
Find out more HERE!
Opening Cultural Concert with Gatehouse Musical Group & Brenda Castles
Saturday 12th September | 7pm to 9pm | Nobber Heritage Centre
The festival's opening concert brings together two very different but complementary forces in Irish traditional music.
Brenda Castles, originally from County Meath, is a renowned concertina player who studied under Mícheál Ó'Raghallaigh. She has released two solo albums and has performed extensively, including appearances with Mick Moloney's Green Fields of America.
Joining her is Gatehouse, an acclaimed traditional Irish band known for expressive vocals, strong musicianship and a deep connection to the tradition.
With a combination of ballads and lively tunes, this promises to be one of the musical highlights of the weekend.
Find out more HERE!
Oíche Ceoil agus Craic
Saturday 12th September | 9pm to midnight | Colwell's, Oristown
The music doesn't stop when the opening concert finishes.
Head to Colwell's in Oristown for an evening traditional music session featuring local musicians and singers.
No booking is required, refreshments will be available and local musicians are welcome to join in. It's a proper Saturday night of Irish music, song and craic.
Find out more HERE!
Comórtas Arán Tíre – Bread Competition
Sunday 13th September | 2.30pm to 3.30pm | Halla Bhaile Ghib
Think your brown bread deserves a prize?
Féile Siamsa Glas is giving local bakers the chance to put their skills to the test with the inaugural Arán Tíre bread competition.
The event celebrates local baking and the importance of bread within Irish food culture, with children encouraged to get involved too.
The competition is being run in partnership with James Tallon from Martry Mill and Drummonds Ltd.
For registration, contact Siobhán Murphy on 086 878 6793 or Cepta Sheppard on 086 852 6965.
Find out more HERE!
Sensory Play at Wilkinstown
Sunday 13th September | 10am to 11am | Wilkinstown Community Centre
A welcoming and inclusive morning of sensory and messy play for children aged 1 to 10.
The session is child-led and unstructured, giving children the freedom to explore hands-on activities at their own pace in a safe environment.
€5 per child | Parents free
Booking is required. Email sensoryplay4all@gmail.com.
Find out more HERE!
Pilates & Matcha on the Greenway
Sunday 13th September | 10am to 11.30am | G'N'R Café, Kilmainhamwood
Start Sunday morning with movement, followed by matcha.
This relaxed indoor Pilates session at G'N'R Café introduces some simple Irish-language words along the way, including phrases such as anáil isteach and anáil amach.
Afterwards, participants can enjoy a matcha drink and receive a pair of Pilates socks.
It's a modern and relaxed way to bring together wellbeing, Gaeilge, sustainability and the Greenway.
Find out more HERE!
Cuairt Rothar ar Ghaeltacht Bhaile Ghib – Gaeltacht Bike Ride
Sunday 13th September | 11am to 3pm | Blackwater Pedestrian Bridge
Explore Gaeltacht Bhaile Ghib on two wheels during this leisurely cycle through quiet local roads.
The route travels through the Gaeltacht before stopping at Park Beo for refreshments, followed by a return journey towards Navan via the Greenway.
There are two route options, 14km or 20km, making it possible to choose the distance that suits you.
It's an ideal way to experience the landscape around Baile Ghib while connecting the language, countryside and Greenway.
Find out more HERE!
Biodiversity Walk with Dr Emma Reeves
Sunday 13th September | 11am to 12pm | Gibbstown Greenway Carpark
The landscape around the Greenway has plenty of stories to tell if you know where to look.
Join senior ecologist Dr Emma Reeves for a biodiversity walk from Gibbstown station, learning about the plants and species encountered along the route and the role they play in the local ecosystem.
The walk will also explore the folklore associated with the species you encounter, bringing together ecology, history and local tradition.
Free event | Booking required
Meet at Gibbstown Greenway Carpark at 11am.
Find out more HERE!
Ceolchoirm le Lisa Murray – Concert with Lisa Murray
Sunday 13th September | 12.30pm to 1.30pm | Park Beo Greenway Hub
Spend Sunday afternoon listening to Irish-language pop music in the great outdoors.
Lisa Murray, also known as 'Gaeilgeoir Swift', is an Irish-language singer-songwriter from the nearby Gaeltacht of Baile Ghib.
Her free open-air performance at the Park Beo gazebo is a chance to relax beside the Greenway, enjoy some live music and hear contemporary songs as Gaeilge.
Grab a coffee, treat or ice cream from Park Beo Outdoor Café and settle in for the afternoon.
Free event and everyone welcome.
Find out more HERE!
Craobh na Phráta – The Potato Championship
Sunday 13th September | 2.30pm to 5pm | Halla Bhaile Ghib
The humble potato gets its moment in the spotlight at the inaugural Potato Championship. The event celebrates the long history of potato growing in the local area, with competitions for the best potato grower and best brown bread alongside talks and a photo exhibition exploring farming practices through the generations.
There will also be refreshments, making this a relaxed afternoon centred around local food, farming and community.
For enquiries, contact Siobhán on 086 878 6793 or Cepta on 086 852 6965.
Find out more HERE!
Evening of Drama, Irish Music & Irish Dancing
Sunday 13th September | 5pm to 7pm | Wilkinstown Community Centre
The final event of Féile Siamsa Glas brings together three of the most recognisable elements of Irish cultural life: drama, music and dance.
The festival closes with a performance of 'In the Shadow of the Glen' by Yellow River Drama Group, an Irish music session from Moodswing, and Irish dancing from Clann Ríoga.
Best of all, the finale is free to attend, with no booking required.
It's a fitting way to finish a weekend built around local talent, traditional culture, community and Gaeilge.
Find out more HERE!
Where to Stay
Planning to make a weekend of Féile Siamsa Glas? With events taking place across the Boyne Valley to Lakelands Greenway and in communities including Baile Ghib, Wilkinstown, Kilmainhamwood and Nobber, there are plenty of places to stay nearby and make the most of the festival weekend.
Newgrange Hotel
Located in Navan, the Newgrange Hotel is a convenient base for exploring Féile Siamsa Glas and the surrounding Boyne Valley. With comfortable accommodation and the town of Navan on your doorstep, it is a great option for visitors looking to combine the festival with a weekend exploring the region.
The hotel also offers the Bridge Restaurant, making it easy to enjoy a meal without having to travel far after a busy day of festival events.
Find out more HERE!
Headfort Arms Hotel
Located in the heart of Kells, the Headfort Arms Hotel offers another excellent base for visitors travelling to the festival. Kells and the surrounding area are within easy reach of several of the Siamsa Glas events, making it a good choice for anyone looking to explore more of the Boyne Valley during their stay.
Find out more HERE!
Bective Stud Self-Catering Apartments
If you would prefer more space and the flexibility of self-catering accommodation, Bective Stud Self-Catering Apartments provide a countryside base from which to explore the festival and the wider Boyne Valley.
With so much happening across the weekend, staying locally means you can enjoy the music, culture and community atmosphere of Féile Siamsa Glas without having to make the journey home after every event.
Find out more HERE!
Féile Siamsa Glas is about much more than putting on a series of events.
It is about showing how the Irish language, local traditions, landscape, food, music and community can all exist together.
You can spend the morning cycling through the countryside, stop for coffee on the Greenway, learn about local biodiversity, listen to traditional music, try your hand at bread making, hear Irish-language songs, watch local drama or simply meet people from the communities that make this part of the Boyne Valley what it is.
And you don't need to be fluent in Irish to take part.
You might learn a few words on the treasure hunt. You might hear Gaeilge during a run or cycle. You might find yourself singing along to an Irish-language song. Or you might simply come away with a greater appreciation for the language and culture around you.
That is the beauty of Féile Siamsa Glas.
Three days. Dozens of events. One very special part of the Boyne Valley. From 11th to 13th September, come along, get involved and experience the Boyne Valley as Gaeilge.
To keep up to date with news, events and special offers, sign up to our newsletter.
