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seasonal · Saturday 8 August 2026 · 6:00pm 
Lughnasadh at the Hill of Uisneach
At Hill of Uisneach · Uisneach Hill, Rathnew, Loughnavalley, Co. Westmeath
At Hill of Uisneach · Uisneach Hill, Rathnew, Loughnavalley, Co. Westmeath
The Hill of Uisneach marks Lughnasadh, the ancient Celtic harvest festival, with an evening event on Saturday 8 August 2026, running from 6pm to around 10pm. Uisneach is traditionally regarded as the sacred centre of Ireland, and Lughnasadh is one of its four great seasonal gatherings, sitting alongside Bealtaine in the site’s yearly calendar as a marker of the turn from summer into harvest.
The evening begins with a screening of a short animation, Uisneach: The Hearth of Ireland, at the site’s Echoes of Uisneach interpretive centre, supported by the Heritage Council and Westmeath County Council. From there the event moves up the hill itself, where a fire bowl is lit at the summit as the light fades, and visitors are invited to take part in traditional Irish pursuits including hurling and wrestling as part of the celebration. The evening is timed around sunset, with organisers describing it as a chance to connect with the landscape and the mythology tied to the hill, and it closes back at the visitor centre with storytelling and music around a fire. Tickets are priced at €24.50 for adults, €17.50 for seniors and students, and €12.50 for children up to 15, booked in advance through the venue’s online system.
Uisneach Hill is near Loughnavalley, between Mullingar and Ballymore, reached via minor roads off the R390. The site has on-site parking for ticket holders.
Uisneach’s mythology runs deep, from the Cat Stone said to mark the centre of Ireland to its long association with the goddess Eriu. There is more to see in Ballymore and across Co. Westmeath.
Heading to Hill of Uisneach in Ballymore? Westmeath has plenty more to see. Read the Ballymore area guide, find what else is on, and explore the towns and villages nearby.