Lughnasadh at Uisneach 2026

What to Expect

Lughnasadh at Uisneach marks one of the four great fire festivals of the old Irish calendar, held each year on the ceremonial hill described by the organisers as the traditional heart of Ireland. Guests gather at the visitor centre before setting off together at 6pm for a guided walk up the hill, where guides share the mythology of Lugh and the Tuatha De Danann as the group ascends through the fields and outcrops that make up the site. The evening is framed as a spiritual and historical journey rather than a straightforward tour, with guides describing a deep connection to the sacred landscape as part of the walk.

At the summit, visitors are invited to add a personal item to a lit fire bowl along with their own intentions, a ritual gesture tied to the fire festivals that gave Uisneach its name. This is followed by a display of traditional Irish sports, including hurling and the older form of wrestling known as brollaidheacht, timed to finish as the sun sets over the surrounding plains. The group then returns to the visitor centre for storytelling and live music around a fire to close out the night.

Good to Know

• Date and time: Saturday 8 August 2026, 6pm to 10pm, Hill of Uisneach, Rathnew, Co. Westmeath
• Price: €24.50 adults, €17.50 students and seniors, €12.50 children up to 15, booked through Fareharbor
• The evening ends back at the visitor centre with storytelling and music around a fire
• This is a three-hour outdoor experience on uneven hillside terrain that requires moderate fitness and suitable hillwalking footwear and clothing
• Uisneach operates as a working farm, so dogs are not permitted on site
• This is an annual fire festival tied to the Celtic calendar, next observed at Bealtaine in May, and followed later in the year by the free Samhain festival on the same hill

Getting There

The Hill of Uisneach is signposted off the R390 between Mullingar and Athlone, close to the village of Loughnavalley, with on-site parking at the visitor centre. It sits roughly midway between the two towns, making it a reasonable evening trip from either.