This November, Blas na Samhna returns with a month-long celebration of Galway’s food and drink culture, as some of the city and county’s best restaurants, hotels, chefs and producers create a series of one-off events inspired by the season.
This year, we are delighted to collaborate with Gaillimh Ah-Boo!, bringing a distinctly Samhain flavour to the programme. As autumn gives way to winter and the evenings draw in, expect atmospheric dining experiences, seasonal feasts and imaginative events that play with the traditions, stories and darker side of this time of year.
See our calendar of events below:
For further info email: info@atasteofgalway.com
Blas na Samhna is supported by Galway City Council, the Gaillimh Ah-Boo! festival, and Fáilte Ireland’s Home of Halloween programme.
Find out about all the workshops, talks, events and more here!
Oct 28
5:00 PM
Samhain at Cava / Todos los Santos: A Spanish–Irish Feast at Cava Bodega celebrating Halloween
This special Spanish–Irish Halloween menu explores the meeting point between the Irish festival of Samhain and Spain’s traditions of Todos los Santos. Both events mark the shift into winter through gatherings, remembrance and foods drawn from harvest time.
The menu brings these traditions together by combining Irish ingredients with Spanish techniques. Familiar dishes are reimagined through this exchange: colcannon becomes a croqueta, squid-ink boxty comes with Galway crab, and Spanish black pudding is combined with quince and Oloroso to make a beautiful stew.
The meal concludes with a barmbrack ‘torrijas’ and rum and raisin ice-cream. This dessert connects the Spanish tradition of soaked and fried bread with the fortunes and food customs of an Irish Halloween.
It is a celebration of Galway and Spain, shaped by the festivals of the late harvests and the returning dark half of the year.
Step into the shadows of Galway this Halloween as Galway Food Tours invites you on a spine-tingling mystery food trail through the city’s cobbled streets. Follow your guide into hidden corners, haunted histories, and candlelit stops where ghoulishly good bites and devilish drinks await.
From secret tastings in mysterious locations to eerie tales whispered along the way, this after-dark adventure will feed both your appetite and your imagination. Expect tricks, treats, and plenty of surprises as Galway’s food scene takes on a deliciously dark twist for the spookiest season of the year.
The promotion of this event is funded through Blas na Samhna, in collaboration with Gaillimh Ah-Boo and Galway City Council.
Meeting point: In front of McCambridges, 38 Shop Street, Galway H91 T2N7
Duration: approx 2.5 hours
Includes: 6 Food/Drink Stops + Goodie bag
Minimum group size: 4
Maximum group size: 12
Weather conditions: Tours will be running in all weather conditions except red weather warnings.
Other info: – Please specify dietary requirements and allergens upon booking your tour (vegetarian and vegan friendly) – Pre-booking is essential.
If low demand on the day, the tour maybe be cancelled 24h before the scheduled departure. Min of 4 people is required to run the tour.
Little Wild Harvesters: A-boo-tiful Halloween Woodland Adventure
As part of Blas na Samhna, in collaboration with Gaillimh Ah-Boo, Fable Tours areholding two Wild Walks in Barna Woods on Saturday 31st October.
Join Margaret for a family-friendly wild food adventure in Barna Woods. Discover the edible treasures of the woodland as the leaves turn, from berries and fruits to nuts, leaves and other seasonal wild foods. Along the way, children and grown-ups will become woodland detectives, learning how to recognise what is around them and discovering some of the traditional stories and folklore associated with Irish trees and plants. Expect a gentle wander, plenty of things to spot and taste, autumn food, stories and a little Halloween magic along the way. A hands-on experience inspired by the changing season and the old Irish festival of Samhain — note we will not be picking mushrooms.
Wild Harvest – Tales and tastes from the Boo-tiful Autumn Woods
As part of Blas na Samhna, in collaboration with Gaillimh Ah-Boo, Fable Tours are holding two Wild Walks in Barna Woods
Autumn leaves are falling as trees and wildlife begin the journey towards winter. Join Margaret, for an atmospheric exploration of Barna Woods. Wander through the woods discovering seasonal fruits, berries, nuts and plants, learning how they have been used in Irish food and rural life. Along the way, Margaret will share stories of the woodland, traditional food knowledge and some of the folklore surrounding Samhain and the turning of the seasons. The experience will include a seasonal tasting inspired by the landscape — a chance to slow down, taste something wild and enjoy the woods at a very special time of year. Note we will not be mushroom foraging
This is not simply a foraging walk. It is a chance to experience the woodland through food, stories, nature and the traditions of an Irish autumn.
Step into the shadows of Galway this Halloween as Galway Food Tours invites you on a spine-tingling mystery food trail through the city’s cobbled streets. Follow your guide into hidden corners, haunted histories, and candlelit stops where ghoulishly good bites and devilish drinks await.
From secret tastings in mysterious locations to eerie tales whispered along the way, this after-dark adventure will feed both your appetite and your imagination. Expect tricks, treats, and plenty of surprises as Galway’s food scene takes on a deliciously dark twist for the spookiest season of the year.
The promotion of this event is funded through Blas na Samhna, in collaboration with Gaillimh Ah-Boo and Galway City Council.
Meeting point: In front of McCambridges, 38 Shop Street, Galway H91 T2N7
Duration: approx 2.5 hours
Includes: 6 Food/Drink Stops + Goodie bag
Minimum group size: 4
Maximum group size: 12
Weather conditions: Tours will be running in all weather conditions except red weather warnings.
Other info: – Please specify dietary requirements and allergens upon booking your tour (vegetarian and vegan friendly) – Pre-booking is essential.
If low demand on the day, the tour maybe be cancelled 24h before the scheduled departure. Min of 4 people is required to run the tour.
As part of Blas na Samhna and Gaillimh Aboo, on Saturday October 31st at 6pm step into the shadows of Galway’s past and uncover the Spirits of Samhain at Micil Distillery! An immersive evening of storytelling, folklore, and handcrafted spirits inspired by Ireland’s most ancient festival.
You will be welcomed with specially curated Samhain spirit serve, smokey, spiced and steeped in tradition. We are delighted to welcome the incredible storyteller Rab Fulton who will share tales of old Connemara, illicit distilling, and the role of poitín in Irish seasonal celebrations.
Discover the craft, culture, and the untamed spirit that connects past and present in this unique celebration of harvest and heritage.
Date & Time Saturday October 31st @ 6pm
€20 pp - Booking Essential
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Micil Distillery: Oslo Bar, 226 Upper Salthill Rd, Galway, H91
The days are slowly getting shorter, and that can only mean one thing… it’s time for Tom Sheridan's annual Haunted House Halloween Party! And with the big day falling on a Saturday, what better excuse do you need to throw a proper bash? You better dress to impress, because they'll be giving away some seriously deadly prizes! Get ready to BOO-gie the night away with live music playing until late. Expect spooky vibes, wicked costumes, deadly prizes, and a night that’s going to be one to dismember… This Halloween, it’s going to be frightfully good!
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Tom Sheridan's, Knocknacarra, Galway
Nov 02
7:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Between Two Worlds: A Samhain Wine Tasting & Storytelling at Daróg
As the harvest comes to an end and winter begins, Samhain marks a time of transition, a threshold between seasons and, traditionally, between this world and the Otherworld.
Join us at Daróg for an evening of wine, cheese and Celtic storytelling. Sommelier Zsolt Lukács will lead a tasting of five wines chosen for the evening, accompanied by a cheese board, while master storyteller Rab Fulton, from ‘Celtic Tales’, shares tales rooted in folklore and the traditions of Samhain.
The Irish name for the event, Idir an Dá Shaol, means “Between Two Worlds”, reflecting the traditional idea of Samhain as a time when the boundary between this world and the Otherworld was at its thinnest.
Through wine, storytelling and the traditions of the harvest, the evening will explore this time of seasonal change and the stories that have surrounded it for generations.
Rab Fulton, is a celebrated storyteller based in Galway City. Rab specialised in telling stories from Irish and Scottish myth and folklore, as well as tales from his family. His published work includes Galway Bay Folk Tales and West of Ireland Folk Tales for Children. His most recent book is The Wicked Woman, a ghost story based on Irish folklore, which he wrote as Letham R. McPaike. Rab also teaches the craft of storytelling in the School of Education in University of Galway.
Price: €65 per person (includes a wine flight of 5 wines and cheese board)
Five wines. Samhain storytelling. An evening between worlds. Event in conjunction with Blas na Gaillimhe & Gaillimh Ah-Boo. Please note this event is suitable for adults only.
Located in Galway’s vibrant Westend, Daróg Wine Bar (Irish: small oak tree) offers a unique wine and dining experience that highlights organic and biodynamic wines, thoughtfully paired with seasonal dishes. Opened in July 2023 by husband-and-wife team Zsolt and Edel Lukács, Daróg has quickly become known for its commitment to sustainability, quality, and community.
Daróg Wine Bar was awarded a Bib Gourmand by the MICHELIN Guide (2025, 2026), recognising its exceptional food at great value. Zsolt, a sommelier with twelve years of experience at the MICHELIN-starred Aniar Restaurant, was also named ‘The Best Sommelier in Great Britain & Ireland 2025’ by the MICHELIN Guide for his outstanding work at Daróg, further cementing its reputation for excellence in wine curation. His meticulously crafted wine list showcases unique selections from small, off-the-beaten-path producers. This dedication has earned Daróg several other prestigious accolades, including the RAI Awards for Best Wine Experience in Connaught and All Ireland (2024) and the Food & Wine Awards for Best Wine Experience in Ireland (2024, 2025) & Connaught (2024, 2025), Georgina Campbell ‘ Wine Experience of the Year’ (2025).
Potions, Elixirs & Autumn Foraging: Be Sage, Make Lovage
A Hands-On Fermentation & Wild Food Workshop
Step into the ancient spirit of Samhain and discover the magic of the wild Irish autumn. In this hands-on workshop, participants will dive into the art of foraging and preserving seasonal wild foods rooted in Galway’s landscape. Learn how to transform autumn's bounty into powerful, health-boosting fermented foods, and craft your own magical, flavor-packed elixirs and sauces using ancient preservation techniques.
Blending culinary tradition with a touch of seasonal folklore, attendees (between 15-20) will not only taste the magic but will also bottle up their own creations to take home and enjoy.
Cosy Season Hot Chocolate Tasting Experience with Grá Chocolates
Join Grá Chocolates at Galway’s newest café, Korner, for an intimate and indulgent Cosy Season Hot Chocolate Tasting Experience. Guests will be guided through a tasting of four signature Grá artisan hot chocolates, celebrating rich local flavours and autumn warmth in the heart of Galway’s Latin Quarter.
Hosted in partnership with Korner-a stockist of Grá Chocolates hot chocolate-this special evening offers a delicious journey through the art of luxury Irish hot chocolate.
Capacity: 30 guests
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Korner Café, Kirwan's Lane, Galway
Nov 13
7:00 PM
Magusto: Portuguese Food & Stories
Book your table: Phone: +353 85 277 6918
Magusto is a traditional festival in Portugal, still kept alive in smaller villages instead of the larger cities who just absorbed the international tendencies. Its roots go back to the ancient Celtic people who lived in the pre-Roman Gallaecia . It is similar to the Samhain festival that celebrates the end of summer and the beginning of winter, and deeply related to the cult of the dead.
It starts on the last night of October, when families and friends gather in the town’s square and large bonfires are lit with the intent of scaring witches and evil spirits. As in most Portuguese festivities everything revolves around food, chestnuts and meat are cooked over flames, the barrels with the first wine from last harvest are open, fresh bread and sweets are distributed, stories are told and memories are recalled. In same places people end the party painting the faces with ashes in a ritualistic significant act.
Before bedtime it is common to leave some food and wine near the window to “feed the dead” and pay homage to the family ancestors.
On the first day of November the pagan rooted celebrations give space to a more church-accepted event, people visit the cemeteries, clean the graves, change the flowers and, while lunch is prepared, children go from door to door asking for sweet treats and singing songs of praise when they get their cookies and sarcastic ones when some house is not so generous. And, of course, the rest of the day passes on a long family lunch that blends itself with dinner.
Jumping through the fire is a common action during these festivities and it is supposed to be connected to some kind of spiritual cleansing. It represents the passage from the spiritual world to the material one, using fire to purify the soul. Even if a syncretic process over the centuries changed some of this events there is still a special symbolism that goest back in time, to the people that lived in this part of Iberia, before the rise and fall of the Roman Empire and the advent of Christianity. The celebration don’t start and end on single night or day. Instead they go until St. Martin’s day, when the last fire, the last chestnut, the last glass of wine effectively mark the end of a season and the start of the long days of Winter, until Spring comes again and the cycle is renewed.
During the 16th and 17th century this traditions arrived on Brazil, then a Portuguese colony, where they incorporated some African mithology due to the slave trade and the beliefs of the original Tupi-Guarani tribes, giving birth to a whole new pantheon like the Saci-Perere (a one legged boy acting as a trickster spirit), a witch in an alligator’s body, or the Headless Mule. Also on the last night of October, especially in rural locations, this symbols come to life as keepers of the frontier between two worlds.
During the Magusto at Alma Restaurant we are going to tell these stories through music, food and drinks because, although different, there is a common line that connects all those beliefs to a time that existed millenia ago.
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Alma Restaurant: Unit 1, Lydon Court, Bóthar Irwin, Galway H91 AK09 Phone: +353 85 277 6918
Nov 19
7:00 PM
Cosy Night of Winter Delights at Tom Sheridan’s
Join us at Tom Sheridan’s on Thursday 19th November at 7pm for a cosy evening of winter favourites and perfectly paired wines. Indulge in a delicious four-course Winter Warmer menu, crafted by Head Chef Danny, with each course matched with a glass of wine from J&C Kenny Wine & Spirits, plus a warm drink on arrival.
With roaring open fires, festive touches and plenty of comforting winter flavours, it’s the perfect evening to savour as part of Blas na Gaillimhe.
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Tom Sheridan's. Knocknacarra, Galway
Nov 21
1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Tae agus Téanga with Súil Eile
Tae agus Téanga is a storytelling and tea evening hosted by us - Solaris Tea with Súil Eile celebrating our Irish roots and connection to Galway, where our tea is made thorugh our new bilingual packaging. Guests will enjoy a guided tea tasting alongside live storytelling inspired by local myths and folklore, creating a warm, atmospheric evening in the spirit of Gaillimh Ah-Boo, Home of Halloween. It's an experience built around connection, culture and community, a shared evening of tea and tale.
Step into the magical atmosphere of Brigit’s Garden, illuminated by the warm glow of candlelight, for a unique autumn evening guided by talented Chef Aitor Escudero and wild food enthusiast Ivonka Kwiek (Sage and Lovage).
This experience invites you to step into the dark, comforting embrace of Samhain. Channeling the mystery of the season through a rich palette of flavours, shadows, and earthy tones, we celebrate the harvest and the forgotten wisdom of wild herbs.
The Culinary Journey
Under the expert guidance of Chef Aitor, you will indulge in a guided tasting featuring the bountiful autumn harvest - including wild ingredients and seasonal produce gathered directly from Brigit’s Garden. Together, we will explore rich, unexpected flavours: from an inventive twist on pumpkin purée and earthy wild mushrooms to rich black garlic pastes, vibrant ferments, and refreshing cocktails crafted from fermented juices.
The Herbal Crafting Workshop
In the second part of the evening, Ivonka will guide you through the art of blending wild herbs and botanicals. You will learn how to harness their natural properties and flavor profiles to craft your very own bespoke herbal salt blend to take home.
Members are featured on the website & social media and receive a Blas na Gaillimhe sticker to display on your window. Member events will be promoted across our platforms.
