Lughnasa Weekend at Navan Centre and Fort

The ancient hillfort of Emain Macha is one of the most significant prehistoric sites in Ireland - the legendary seat of the Ulster Kings, a place where mythology and archaeology sit side by side on the same drumlin. Every August, Navan Centre and Fort marks the Celtic harvest festival of Lughnasadh with a three-day programme that brings the site to life in a way a standard daytime visit simply does not. If you have even a passing interest in Irish myth, early medieval culture, or the Ulster Cycle, this is the weekend to make the trip.

What to expect

The 2026 Lughnasa Weekend runs across three days, each with its own distinct character. The opening evening on Tuesday 4 August is “Tales of the Past” - an outdoor storytelling session on the hillfort itself, with Irish mythology performed by candlelight against the backdrop of the ancient landscape, accompanied by live music and fire-cooked food. It is an adults-centred evening and the atmospheric setting - a 2,000-year-old ceremonial mound built from 275 oak posts and 276 tonnes of limestone - is hard to replicate anywhere else in Ireland.

Wednesday 5 August brings “Games of the Past”, a family afternoon drawing on the ancient Tailteann Games that were traditionally associated with the Lughnasadh festival. Expect activities rooted in warrior culture - hurley drills, spear throwing, and field games - alongside costumed guides and the site’s Iron Age living history area. Children who have been dragged around too many static museums tend to respond well to this kind of hands-on format.

The weekend closes on Sunday 6 August with a Fused Glass Ogham Experience - a craft workshop where participants create glass art inspired by the ancient Ogham script. Ogham is the earliest form of written Irish, and the connection to a harvest festival site gives it a grounding that goes beyond a standard craft class. Check at booking whether there is a minimum age for this session.

Getting there

Navan Centre and Fort sits on the Killylea Road (BT60 4LD), 3 km west of Armagh city centre. Free on-site parking is available for standard daytime visits, though for major evening events the centre sometimes runs a Park and Ride from Armagh - worth confirming when you book. Armagh itself is served by bus from Belfast, Newry and Monaghan; the Killylea Road is a short taxi ride from the city bus stops. The site is wheelchair accessible, with disabled parking, wheelchair hire and accessible facilities on site.

While you’re in Armagh

Armagh city repays time - two cathedrals on facing hills, the Georgian Mall, and the Armagh Observatory planetarium are all within easy walking distance of the centre. There is more to see in Armagh and across Co. Armagh.

Good to know

• Dates: Tuesday 4 August to Sunday 6 August 2026; specific sessions on 4, 5 and 6 August
• Time: Various - “Tales of the Past” is an evening session; “Games of the Past” is an afternoon; Fused Glass is likely morning or afternoon (check at booking)
• Price: from £8; individual sessions may vary - confirm at booking
• Book via visitarmagh.com or contact Navan Centre directly
• The site is a scheduled monument and on Ireland’s UNESCO Tentative World Heritage list
• Wheelchair accessible; guide dogs welcome