🎄 The Origins of the Christmas Story❄️

📍 What: A talk about the origins of the Christmas Story, journey through Texts, traditions and time, with professor Salvador Ryan, professor of Ecclesiastical history.

📍 Where: Kildare Education Support Centre(The Old Parochial House), Friary Road, Kildare Town R51KN66

📍 When: Wednesday December 2025- Talk begins at 8:00pm with ‘Cuppa and Chat’ from 7:15pm

📍 Booking: No booking needed

Part of Cill Dara Historical Society

New members welcome!

Wreath Making Workshop

📍 Venue: Larchill Gardens Kilcock Co. Meath W23Y44P

📅 Date: Saturday 19th of November 2025

🕖 Time: 11am 1pm

🎟️ Tickets: 70€

More info: Larchill Gardens

Rescue Doggy Calendar Launch Night & Pub Quiz in Aid of KWWSPCA

📍 Venue: Fallons Bar & Café, Main Street, Kilcullen (R56 W597)
📅 Date: Friday, 28th November 2025
🕖 Time: 7:00 p.m. – 11:30 p.m.
🎟️ Tickets: Available at eventbrite.
🚗 Free parking available
🔞 Ages: 18+
🔁 Refunds: Up to 7 days before the event
🐾 Category: Community & Fundraising Events
🏷️ Tags: KWWSPCA, Fundraiser, Pub Quiz, Kilcullen Events, Community Night, Animal Welfare

Get ready for a paws-itively fun night out in aid of the Kildare & West Wicklow SPCA! 🐶
Join us at Fallons Bar & Café for the official launch of the Rescue Doggy Calendar, followed by a lively pub quiz packed with great questions, prizes, and laughter — all in support of local rescue animals.

Gather your team, grab a drink, and help raise funds for a fantastic cause. Every table makes a difference to the animals cared for by KWWSPCA. 💚

Caoimhín O’Raghallaigh & Seán Mac Erlaine

📅 Friday 7th November, 2025 – 8:00pm
💶 Tickets: €18 / €20
🎟️ Book Now at: www.riverbank.ie or click here.

Two of Ireland’s most captivating contemporary folk artists, Caoimhín O’Raghallaigh and Seán Mac Erlaine, join forces to celebrate their new duo album Jeu de Plomb.

Blending traditional roots with experimental soundscapes, their music is both deeply Irish and daringly original. Expect an unforgettable evening of haunting strings, woodwinds, and immersive live electronics — a spellbinding journey through the evolving voice of modern folk.

Belfast Girls

Presented by An Táin Arts Centre & Quintessence Theatre
📅 Wednesday 5th November, 2025 – 8:00pm
💶 Tickets: €18 / €20
🎟️ Book Now - Visit the Riverbank website or Click Here

Set in 1850, Belfast Girls follows five young women leaving Belfast aboard a ship bound for Australia in search of a better life. Confined together on their long voyage, secrets are revealed, bonds are forged, and each must face the truth that there is no escaping the past.

An award-winning feminist play by Dundalk writer Jaki McCarrick, Belfast Girls shines a light on a powerful, untold chapter of Irish history.
Directed by Rhiann Jeffrey.

Age Suitability: 14+
Warnings: Contains suggestion of sexual violence

🚓Jail escapes: Great Irish Republican Escapes🏃‍♂️‍➡️

📍 What: A talk about the Great Irish republican escapes with James Durney, historian and author.

📍 Where: Kildare Education Support Centre(The Old Parochial House), Friary Road, Kildare Town R51KN66

📍 When: Wednesday 5th November 2025- Talk begins at 8:00pm with ‘Cuppa and Chat’ from 7:15pm

📍 Booking: No booking needed

Part of Cill Dara Historical Society

New members welcome!

The Neuroscience of Irish Trauma: Unraveling Mental Health in Ireland

📍 Venue: Moat Theatre & Café, Abbey Road, Naas
📅 Date: Monday, 3rd November 2025
🕖 Time: Doors open 7:00 p.m. | Talk starts 7:30 p.m. | Ends 9:30 p.m.
🎟️ Tickets: Available via eventbrite.
🔁 Refund Policy: Refunds available up to 7 days before the event

Join Dr Michael Keane for an enlightening evening exploring how trauma reshapes the brain — affecting memory, emotion, and resilience. In this thought-provoking talk, Dr Keane will uncover the neuroscience behind trauma and recovery, drawing on two decades of brain imaging and unique insights into the Irish experience of trauma.

Discover how science is helping us understand mental health, and learn about the brain’s remarkable capacity for healing through new therapeutic and self-care approaches.

This in-person Seed Talks event includes time for a Q&A session, offering a rare opportunity to engage directly with a leading expert in behavioural neuroscience.

⭐ “Truly riveting talks — a great way to spend an evening with friends.” – Alexander P
⭐ “Expertly run, informative, and fun! 5 stars.” – Owen S

Follow @seedtalks on Instagram for updates.

🎄 Christmas Party 2025 – Your Best Life

📍 The Keadeen Hotel, Newbridge, Co. Kildare
📅 Saturday, 1st November 2025 | 3pm – 8pm

Get ready for the Christmas party of the year! Join Maura Derrane, James Patrice, and special guest Una Healy for an unforgettable festive celebration filled with sparkle, laughter, and Christmas magic.

Enjoy a dazzling afternoon of entertainment, delicious dining, live music, beauty and fashion masterclasses, pop-up shopping, giveaways, and party surprises galore — all in support of Breast Cancer Ireland.

✨ Expect fabulous gifts and vouchers from Homestore + More, Newbridge Silverware, Bare by Vogue and Codex Labs, plus festive fun from the moment you arrive: live tunes from The Loungeman, expert demos from Chef Adrian, and plenty of style inspiration to make your Christmas shine.

🎁 It’s not just a party — it’s a full-on Christmas fest!

🔗 More info & tickets: yourbestlifehub.com

Halloween Hoolie – Kildare Town Parade & Dance Party

Calling all witches, wizards, and spooky souls! Gather at The Square, Kildare Town this Thursday, 31st October at 7:00pm for a frightfully fun evening of music, dancing, and Halloween mayhem.

The night kicks off with DJ Owen Fagan setting the scene for a Witch’s Dance and a lively Halloween Parade through the town. Don your most creative costume—there are prizes for the best dressed! Everyone is welcome to join the fun and be part of this hauntingly good community celebration.

📅 Date & Time: Thursday, 31st October, 7:00pm
📍 Location: The Square, Kildare Town
🎶 Music by: DJ Owen Fagan
🎭 Activities: Parade • Witch’s Dance • Karaoke • Prizes for Best Dressed

For updates and more information, see the Hive Kildare Town facebook page

Samhain Celebration Banquet at The Inn at Milltown

📍 Venue: The Inn at Milltown
📅 Date: Friday, 31st October 2025
🕖 Time: 7:00 p.m.
🎟️ Tickets: €50 (includes 3-course meal)
📞 Booking: Tickets available from The Inn at Milltown or by calling 045 436042.

Join us this Samhain for a magical evening of music, storytelling, and poetry at The Inn at Milltown. Enjoy a delicious three-course banquet-style meal as local voices bring to life the legends and lore of Kildare — from the tales of Moll Anthony to other haunting local stories.

Featuring performances by Sionna, with storytellers and poets Mae Leonard, Mario Corrigan, and Pauline Clooney, this special event celebrates local talent, tradition, and community spirit.

For more information, contact Eimear Shannon at 086 3908438.

✨ Booking is essential — spaces are limited!

Pumpkin Carving Competition & Parade – Athy

🎃 Pumpkin Carving Competition – Athy
Get ready for some frightfully good fun! Bring your carved pumpkin along, show it off on stage, and you could win a fang-tastic prize. Let your imagination glow and join in the spooky spirit! 👻

📍 Location: Athy Town
🕖 Date & Time: Friday 31st, time to be announced
ℹ️ Details: Visit the Athy Town Promoters Facebook page for updates and entry information.

✨ Halloween Parade & Light Show – Athy
Join the magic of Athy’s annual Halloween Parade! Enjoy drummers, dazzling lights, and a glowing procession of pumpkins in a fun-filled evening for all ages. A perfect way to celebrate Halloween night! 🎶🎃

📍 Location: Athy Town
🕖 Date & Time: Friday 31st , at 6.30pm
ℹ️ Details: Visit the Athy Town Promoters Facebook page for full event details and updates.

🎭 Market Scare on Market Square – Samhain Newbridge 2025

Description:
Join the heart of the Samhain Newbridge 2025 celebrations in Market Square, Newbridge! Enjoy an afternoon and evening filled with outdoor cinema, family fun, and the much-loved Samhain Procession & Fire Ceremony.
All events are free and open to everyone — a perfect community gathering to mark the turning of the seasons.

Where:
Market Square, Eyre Street, Newbridge

When:
Friday, 31 October 2025 — 2:30 PM to 7:30 PM

Cost:
Free | All ages welcome

Schedule:
🎬 2:30 PM – Hocus Pocus (Outdoor Screening)
A family-friendly Halloween favourite on the big screen! Bring a chair or blanket and come early to grab a good spot.

🌒 4:20 PM – Sleepy Hollow (Outdoor Screening)
As dusk falls, enjoy this gothic Tim Burton classic under the evening sky.

🔥 6:10 PM – Samhain Procession, Storytelling & Fire Ceremony
The highlight of the festival — join the community procession from George’s Street to Market Square, followed by live storytelling and the ceremonial Samhain Fire.

Good to Know:

• Children must be supervised at all times.

• Outdoor event — dress warmly and bring rain gear.

• Traffic diversions may apply around Market Square (1:00–8:00 PM).

• Extra fun (subject to confirmation): face painting & kids’ area from 2:30 PM.

Funding & Support:
Funded by the Department of Justice (Community Safety Innovation Fund) and supported by Kildare County Council (LPT Fund), Safer Newbridge, Riverbank Arts Centre, and June Fest.
For updates and more information go to : linktr.ee/SamhainNewbridge

Part of:
🎃 Samhain Newbridge 2025

Spook and Scare – Free Kids Halloween Event

Get ready for some Halloween fun in Monasterevin! The Monasterevin Community Centre is hosting a spooktacular afternoon filled with tricks, treats, and plenty of fun for children of all ages. Drop in anytime between 1pm and 7pm on Thursday, 31st October for a free family-friendly event that’s sure to bring lots of laughter and a few light-hearted scares!

🕐 Date & Time: Friday, 31st October, 1pm–7pm
📍 Location: Monasterevin Community Centre
💬 More Information: facebook.com/MonasterevinCommunityCentre1

👻 Free entry | Family fun | Local community event

Potion Workshop: The Magic of Taste

Date: Thursday, 30th October
Time: 6:15pm
Location: Kildare Town Library

Step into Kildare Library this Halloween and unlock the secrets of flavour! In this interactive, alcohol-free cocktail demonstration, participants will explore how sweet, sour, bitter, salty, and umami flavours work together to cast a spell on the senses.
Hosted by drinks expert and TU Dublin lecturer Judith Boyle, this workshop promises smoky potions, eerie elixirs, and ghoulish drinks that prove you don’t need spirits to conjure a spellbinding beverage.

🎟️ Admission: Free — book your ticket at the library desk.

🦉 Bats in the Belfry & Things That Go Flap in the Night!

Description:
Join the Kildare Bat Group for a fascinating (and slightly spooky!) evening exploring the secret lives of bats, owls, and moths. Learn about Halloween myths, the magic of sound, and the mysteries of the night in this special Samhain Newbridge event.

Perfect for families, nature lovers, and anyone curious about the creatures that come alive after dark — it’s sure to be a thrilling hour of flaps, facts, and fun!

Where:
St Patrick’s Church of Ireland,
4 Moorefield Road, Newbridge, W12 HN15

When:
Thursday, 30 October 2025 — 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM
(Doors open 5:40 PM)

Cost:
€4 per person
(Children under 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian)

More Info:
Organised by June Fest Kildare book your tickets now, click here.

Part of:
🎃 Samhain Newbridge 2025

🎶 Inni-K – An Invitation to Sing

Description:
Join Inni-K (Eithne Ní Chatháin) for an uplifting and inclusive singing workshop celebrating both tradition and creativity. You’ll learn a traditional sean-nós song and one of Inni-K’s own compositions from her brand-new album — which she’ll be launching later that evening!

For those feeling brave, there’s even a chance to join Inni-K and her band on stage later in the night as a backing singer. Presented in Eithne’s trademark friendly and informal style, this workshop is open to everyone — no singing experience needed.
Fáilte roimh gach éinne / Everyone welcome!

Where:
Riverbank Arts Centre, Newbridge

When:
Thursday, 30 October 2025 — 5:30 PM
(Duration: 90 minutes)

Cost:
🎤 Workshop only — €10
🎟️ Workshop & Gig combo ticket — €25

More Info / Book Now:
Visit Riverbank Arts Centre

Part of:
🎃 Newbridge Samhain Festival 2025

Photo credit: Antonia Kenny

💀 Tim Burton’s Corpse Bride

Description:
Step into Tim Burton’s beautifully eerie world with Corpse Bride, a stop-motion classic full of heart, humour, and hauntingly good visuals. Follow Victor, a young man accidentally whisked away to the underworld and wed to a mysterious Corpse Bride — while his true love waits in the land of the living.

With gothic charm, whimsical animation, and a story about love that transcends worlds, this is the perfect spooky-season cinema treat for all ages.

Where:
Riverbank Arts Centre, Newbridge

When:
Thursday, 30 October 2025 — 12:00 PM

Cost:
€4

Cert:
PG | 77 mins | English language

More Info / Book Now:
Visit Riverbank Arts Centre

Part of:
🎃 Newbridge Samhain Festival 2025

Presented in association with:
Access Cinema & Europa Cinemas

🐭 Halloween Felted Finger Puppet Fun! with Tamzen Lundy

Description:
Join us for a spooktacular Wet Felt Making Workshop just for kids! In this fun, hands-on session, young crafters will learn how to make their very own felted finger puppet mice — perfect for Halloween play and storytelling.

No experience is needed, and all materials are provided. Expect creativity, a little bit of mess, and a lot of fun — plus, everyone gets to take home their very own mousey friend!

Where:
Riverbank Arts Centre, Newbridge

When:
Thursday, 30 October 2025 — Workshops at 10:00 AM & 12:00 PM
(Duration: 90 minutes)

Age:
7–12 years

Cost:
See booking link for details

More Info / Book Now:
Visit Riverbank Arts Centre

Part of:
🎃 Newbridge Samhain Festival 2025

🧶 Beginner Crochet for Adults – Halloween Pumpkin

Description:
Get into the spirit of the season with a cosy crochet evening! In this hands-on beginner workshop, you’ll learn the basics of crochet — from making simple stitches to reading an easy pattern — and use your new skills to create your very own handmade pumpkin.

Led by Helen Whiteley, a talented self-taught fibre artist with over a decade of experience in crocheting, knitting, weaving, and more, this relaxed session is perfect for absolute beginners. All materials will be provided, including extra yarn to practise with.

Where:
Riverbank Arts Centre, Newbridge

When:
Wednesday, 29 October 2025 — 7:00 PM

Cost:
€12

More Info / Book Now:
Book via Riverbank Arts Centre

Part of:
🎃 Newbridge Samhain Festival 2025

🎶 Dublin Welsh Male Voice Choir – With Guests

📅 Date: Saturday, 25th October 2025
⏰ Time: 19:30 – 21:00
📍 Venue: St. Brigid’s Cathedral, Market Square, Kildare Town
🎟️ Cost: See organiser for details
🎤 Description: An unforgettable evening of song in the historic setting of St. Brigid’s Cathedral. Featuring the Dublin Welsh Male Voice Choir, Morriston RFC Choir from Wales, and a special performance from St Patrick’s NS school choir.
🔗 More Info: Eventbrite

📍 What: A vibrant September lineup including exhibitions (Family Trees hang over Property Lines & TADA!)
📍 Where: Riverbank Arts Centre, Main Street, Newbridge
📍 When: Friday, 5 September – Friday, 25th October
📍 Cost: Free exhibitions
📍 More Info: Full listings available at Riverbank Arts Centre.