Coiscéimeanna na Coille

Filleann ‘Coiscéimeanna na Coille’ agus an tumeispéireas draíochta d’Oíche Shamhna ar Shliabh gCuillinn

An rachfá féin a shiúl sa choill scanrúil ar Oíche Shamhna?

Fillfidh ‘Coiscéimeanna na Coille’ ar Pháirc Foraoise Shliabh gCuillinn idir Dé Céadaoin 25 agus Dé Luain 30 Deireadh Fómhair.

Déanfaidh muid ceiliúradh ar an fhéile Ghaelach – Samhain – a chuireann deireadh le séasúr an fhómhair agus tús leis an gheimhreadh. Déanfar Sliabh gCuillinn a chlaochlú ina domhan eile draíochta le linn na féile sé lá.

Ceiliúrtar Samhain go stairiúil ar fud na hÉireann; tá an fhéile sáite i dtraidisiún a mhúnlaíonn an tsaoire a dtugann muid Oíche Shamhna uirthi sa lá atá inniu ann.

Tabharfaidh Coiscéimeanna na Coille an tumeispéireas spraíúil chun beatha d’Oíche Shamhna trí charachtair faoi fheisteas, trí shoilse iontacha, agus trí scéalaíocht mhiotasach. Rachaidh cuairteoirí ar chonair féintreoraithe faoi na soilse a thabharfaidh ar thuras iad ó thús ré na Samhna go dtí Oíche Shamhna an lae inniu. Beidh an imeacht ar siúl sa tráthnóna leis an tsult agus an tsamhlaíocht a spreagadh i measc gach aoisghrúpa.

Tosóidh an imeacht gach tráthnóna ag 5.00pm. Beidh naoi mbabhta féintreoraithe ar siúl gach leathuair an chloig go dtí an seó deiridh ag 9.00pm. Beidh turas inrochtana ar siúl ag 5.00pm agus 5.30pm gach lá le soilse níos gile agus fuaim cheoil níos ísle. Beidh seisiúin Ghaeilge ar siúl Déardaoin 26 Deireadh Fómhair ag 6.00pm, 6.30pm agus 7.00pm.

Dúirt Cathaoirleach Chomhairle Cheantar an Iúir, Mhúrn agus an Dúin, an Comhairleoir Valerie Harte,

“Cuireann Coiscéimeanna na Coille deireadh leis an fhéile Giant Adventures 2023. Tá an-dúil ag teaghlaigh san fhéile sin ó thosaigh sí in 2016. Tá an-áthas orm go mbeidh an clár ag filleadh i mbliana chun traidisiúin an ama atá thart a cheiliúradh. Gan amhras, bainfidh daoine de gach aois sult as sin.

Lean an Cathaoirleach, an Comhairleoir Harte léi,

"Beidh rud éigin do gach duine agus do gach aois san fhéile sé lá seo. Chomh maith le taispeántas iontach soilse, beidh spraoi teaghlaigh ann go flúirseach ar fud na féile. Tá mé an-bhródúil as na himeachtaí atá soláthartha ag an Chomhairle i mbliana. Ní hamháin gur éirigh go breá le Wake the Giant agus Eats & Beats ó thaobh téagair agus scála de, ach d’úsáid siad na gnéithe is mó cáil inár gceantar – an tírdhreach, na finscéalta, an ceol agus an bia – chun trí imeacht uathúla a chruthú. Níl amhras ar bith orm ach go dtógfaidh Coiscéimeanna na Coille air seo a thuilleadh.”

Is imeacht saor in aisce Coiscéimeanna na Coille, ach ní mór áit a chur in áirithe. Beidh na ticéid ar fáil Dé Luain 9 Deireadh Fómhair ag 11rn ar an tsuíomh gréasáin Visit Mourne Mountains: www.visitmournemountains.co.uk. Lean Visit Mourne ar na meáin shóisialta le haghaidh meabhrúcháin agus eolas nuashonruithe - @VisitMourne.

Chomh maith leis an fhéile Coiscéimeanna na Coille, beidh clár spreagúil imeachtaí d’Oíche Shamhna ann a dhéanfaidh ceiliúradh ar chultúr agus oidhreacht an cheantair. Cuirfidh na himeachtaí seo lena bhfuil ar fáil cheana féin do mhuintir na háite agus do chuairteoirí atá ag baint taitnimh as an fhómhar sna Beanna Boirche agus ar Fháinne Cnoc Shliabh gCuillinn.

Footsteps in the Forest Returns to Slieve Gullion with an Immersive Halloween Experience

Would you take a walk in a spooky forest during Halloween? 

 ‘Footsteps in the Forest’, will make a spooktacular return to Slieve Gullion Forest Park between Wednesday 25 and Monday 30 October.

Once again celebrating the Gaelic festival of Samhain (Sow-in), which marks the harvest season's end and the beginning of winter, the six-day festival will see Slieve Gullion transformed into the 'otherworld'.

Historically celebrated throughout Ireland, Samhain is steeped in tradition that to this day shapes the holiday we now know as Halloween. Footsteps in the Forest will bring this fun and immersive Halloween experience to life through costumed characters, spectacular illuminations, and mythical storytelling.  Visitors will go along a self-guided, illuminated trail that will take them on the journey from the origins of Samhain to modern day Halloween.  To bring a mystical quality to the experience, the event will be held in the evening enthralling and capturing the imaginations of all ages.

The event will start each evening at 5.00pm with nine self-guided trails that will run every half hour until the last show at 9.00pm. An accessible tour will take place at 5.00pm and 5.30pm each day with a brighter setting and lower music. Irish language sessions will take place on Thursday 26 October at 6.00pm, 6.30pm and 7.00pm.

Newry, Mourne and Down District Council Chairperson, Councillor Valerie Harte said,

"Footsteps in the Forest brings to a close our Giant Adventures 2023 festival line-up.  The festival has been a firm favourite with families since 2016 and I am delighted that the extended programme will be returning this year to celebrate traditions of the past that people of all ages will delight in.

Chairperson, Cllr Harte continued,

"This six-day festival will have something for Halloween fans of all ages. As well as a spectacular illumination display, it will have an abundance of family fun wherever you turn.  I am very proud of the events the Council has delivered this year.  Wake the Giant and Eats & Beats have not only delivered in terms of quality and scale, but they used what we are best known for in our district - our landscapes, legends, music and produce - to create three unique experiences.  I have no doubt that Footsteps in the Forest will build upon this further.”

Footsteps in the Forest is a free event, but booking is essential. Tickets will go live on Monday 9 October at 11am on the Visit Mourne Mountains website: www.visitmournemountains.co.uk so please follow the Visit Mourne social media pages for reminders and updates - @VisitMourne.

In addition to the Footsteps in the Forest festival, there will be an exciting programme of Halloween events that will also celebrate the district’s culture and heritage. These events will add to the fantastic offering already in place for both locals and visitors enjoying their autumn in the Mourne Mountains & Ring of Gullion.