Festival Overview
The Lingaun Valley Solstice Festival is an inaugural cultural festival running from Sunday 14 to Sunday 21 June 2026 across the Lingaun Valley, on the Kilkenny–Tipperary borderlands. The festival culminates on the summer solstice with The Light Returns, a major closing night at the historic Ormond Castle in Carrick-on-Suir.
Themed Where Light Meets the Land, the festival brings together storytelling, lantern making, slate carving, heritage walks, live music and community gatherings — drawing on the landscape, folklore and living traditions of one of Ireland’s most distinctive river valleys.
The festival is a co-operation project jointly funded by Kilkenny LEADER Partnership CLG and South Tipperary Development Company through the LEADER programme.
Key Festival Details Festival Name: Lingaun Valley Solstice Festival 2026 Dates: Sunday 14 June – Sunday 21 June 2026 Theme: Where Light Meets the Land Location: Across the Lingaun Valley, Co. Tipperary & Co. Kilkenny Culminating Event: The Light Returns — Ormond Castle, Carrick-on-Suir, 21 June Website: www.solsticefestival.lingaunvalley.ie Tickets: events.leapevents.com/tickets/lingaun-valley-solstice-festival-2026 Instagram: @lingaunvalleysolsticefest Facebook: @lingaunvalleysolsticefestival |
Full Programme: 14 to 21 June 2026
- Community Storytelling with Helena Byrne and Ade Walsh
- Live music: Kilcash Comhaltas, Hooks & Crookes Sea Shanty, John Ryan, Dom O’Driscoll & more
- 8pm – 10.30pm | Community Hall, Kilcash | Tickets €15
Monday 15 June
- Lantern Making Evening with Selene Murphy and Monica Fleming
- 7pm – 9pm | Community Hall, Windgap | Free, registration required
Tuesday 16 June
- Know Your Hedgerow Walk and Talk with Maura Brennan, Acorn Project
- 11am – 1pm | Tullahought Church Carpark | Free, registration required
- 5,000 Years of Carving Monuments in the Lingaun Valley with Elizabeth Sheehy
- 2pm – 3pm Knockroe | 3.30pm – 4.30pm Ahenny High Cross | Free, registration required
Wednesday 17 June
- Stories from the Valley with Jimmy Walsh and Pat O’Gorman
- 10am – 1pm | Tullahought / Ahenny High Crosses | Free, registration required
Thursday 18 June
- Walls and Waylines — Dry Stone Walling Workshop with Alan Counihan and Declan McNamara
- 10am – 2pm | Ormond Slate Quarries | Free, registration required
- Heritage Talk: Ormond Slate Quarries with Pat O’Gorman and Jimmy Walsh
- 2pm – 3pm | Ormond Slate Quarries | Free
Friday 19 June
- Walls and Waylines — Dry Stone Walling Workshop with Alan Counihan and Declan McNamara
- 10am – 2pm | Ormond Slate Quarries | Free, registration required
- Heritage Talk: Ormond Slate Quarries with Pat O’Gorman and Jimmy Walsh
- 2pm – 3pm | Ormond Slate Quarries | Free
- Community Storytelling with Martin Matthews and Ade Walsh
- Live music: Neill Bourke, Kevin Power, Paney Bartley, Phila Grace, Hannah Walsh & more
- 8pm – 10.30pm | Kilkieran Barn | Tickets €15
Saturday 20 June
- Wayfinding the Lingaun Valley — Relief Slate Carving with Martin Lyttle | BOOKED OUT
- 10am – 3pm | Ormond Slate Quarries
- Slate Quarry Loop Walk with Walter Power
- 30am – 12.30pm | Ormond Slate Quarries | Free, registration required
- Lighting the Lingaun — Community Lantern Making with Selene Murphy and Paul Bokslag
- 11am – 3pm | Ormond Slate Quarries | Free, registration required
- Live music: Ruth Lydon (harp) 11am – 12pm | Mark Anthony McGrath (guitar) 12pm – 3pm
Sunday 21 June — The Light Returns, Festival Finale
- Ormond Castle, Carrick-on-Suir
- Doors open 5.30pm | Events from 6pm | Music from 7.30pm – 10.30pm
- A three-part solstice experience: The Gathering, The Solstice Moment, The Celebration
- Storytelling, community lantern and slate relief carving exhibitions, live music
- Music: D’Bize, Beats of Éire, The Big Mad Horn Céilí Band
- Tickets: €30 / €25 concession (unwaged and OAP)
Further Information
Festival Website: www.solsticefestival.lingaunvalley.ie
Ticket Booking: events.leapevents.com/tickets/lingaun-valley-solstice-festival-2026
Instagram: @lingaunvalleysolsticefest
Facebook: @lingaunvalleysolsticefestival
#WhereLightMeetstheLand #LingaunValleySolsticeFestival #irelandsancienteast #SummerSolstice #TheLightReturns
