Coiscéimeanna na Coille ag filleadh ar Shliabh gCuillinn le hEispéireas Draíochtúil na Samhna

An bhfuil tú cróga go leor chun na Coiscéimeanna diamhara a leanstan?

Beidh an Oll-Eachtra dheiridh de chuid Visit Mourne 2022 – ‘Coiscéimeanna na Coille’ ar siúl i bPáirc Foraoise Shliabh gCuillinn ón Déardaoin 27 go dtí an Luan 31 Deireadh Fómhair.

Déanfaidh an t-eispéireas tumthach seo fá choinne Oíche Shamhna ceiliúradh ar an fhéile Ghaelach darb ainm “Samhain”, a cheanglaíonn deireadh aimsir an fhómhair agus tús an gheimhridh.  Tá an imeacht seo stiúrtha ag an scríbhneoir, taibheoir agus bean de bhunadh an Iúir, Rozlyn Sheridan. Rachaidh cuairteoirí ar turas go dtí an saol osnádúrtha, le foghlaim faoi bhunús Ceilteach Oíche Samhna.

Treoróidh carachtair i gcultacha tú ar chonair dar teideal ‘Filleadh an Gheimhridh’ agus tú ag iarraidh fathach Shliabh gCuillinn a choinneáil ina choladh. Ar an chosán scáthmhar, bí ag faire amach don Phúca, Jack O Lantern agus Beara, an chailleach cháiliúil, a rinne feall ar Fhionn Mac Cumhaill trí iarraidh air léim isteach sa loch chun a fáinne óir a aimsiú, chun go bhfillfeadh sé mar sheanfhear céasta. Chomh maith le carachtair scanrúla beidh soilse iontacha, scéalaíocht mhiotasach agus go leor tascanna le cur i gcrích ag na páistí ar an bhealach.

Nuair a bhí Cathaoirleach Chomhairle an Iúir, Mhúrn agus an Dúin, an Comhairleoir Michael Savage ag labhairt faoin imeacht, dúirt sé “Gach bliain éiríonn le Coiscéimeanna na Coille ceiliúradh a dhéanamh, oideachas agus siamsaíocht a chur ar fáil, chomh maith le haird a tharraingt ar mhiotais, fhinscéalta, thírdhreach agus thraidisiúin na háite ársa seo i mbealach úr agus nuálaíoch. Agus téama nua Oíche Shamhna ag an Oll-Eachtra dheiridh seo de chuid Visit Mourne 2022, beidh Sliabh gCuillinn foirfe mar shuíomh arís eile chun tairbhe a bhaint as an fhoraois, an chlapsholas agus as meascán íomhanna, fuaimeanna agus teicneolaíochta chun domhan samhlaíoch a chruthú dúinn.”

Lean an Cathaoirleach, an Comhairleoir Savage, “Anuas ar Choiscéimeanna na Coille, beidh go leor imeachtaí scanrúla, spraíúla agus diamhara eile ar siúl ar fud an cheantair thar Oíche Shamhna agus an sos lár téarma. Cuireann imeachtaí mar seo deiseanna áineasa agus fóillíochta ar fáil do chónaitheoirí agus meallann siad cuairteoirí agus caiteachas nua chun an Iúir, Mhúrn agus an Dúin. Cuidíonn siad fosta le cur le próifíl ár mbailte, ár sráidbhailte agus ár bpáirceanna agus tá áthas orm go mbeidh an oiread sin cúiseanna ag daoine a gcuid saoire a chaitheamh anseo i rith an Fhómhair.”

Cuirfear tús le Coiscéimeanna na Coille gach tráthnóna ag 5.30in le conair atá oiriúnach do dhaoine le huathachas, agus beidh an imeacht ar siúl gach uair an chloig go dtí an seisiún deiridh, a thosaíonn ag 8.30in. Beidh turas Gaeilge ar siúl ar cheann de na hoícheanta fosta. Beidh deochanna te agus smailceacha ar díol ag Sráidbhaile na Samhna ag an imeacht.

Cuirtear i gcuimhne do chuairteoirí go bhfuil an imeacht le bheith ar siúl go mall sa tráthnóna i bpáirc foraoise.  Tá talamh míchothrom ar an chonair 1.4km agus tosaíonn sí le mala ghéar.  Moltar go gcaitear éadaí teo agus bróga oiriúnacha. 

Ní bheidh cead páirceála ag Páirc Foraoise Shliabh gCuillinn le linn an imeachta, ach amháin do dhaoine a bhfuil suaitheantas gorm acu.  Cuirfear áiseanna ‘páirceáil agus taistil’ ar fáil le linn na féile.  Beidh eolas ar pháirceáil agus taistil ar fáil ar shuíomh gréasáin Visit Mourne.

Is imeacht saor in aisce é Coiscéimeanna na Coille ach caithfear áit a chur in áirithe.  Beidh ticéid ar fáil ar an Aoine 14 Deireadh Fómhair ar shuíomh gréasáin Visit Mourne:

visitmournemountains.co.uk mar sin moltar go leantar leathanaigh mheán sóisialta de chuid Visit Mourne le meabhrúcháin agus eolas nua a fheiceáil. Tá eolas ar shuíomh gréasáin Visit Mourne fosta maidir le lóistín, áiteanna le hithe agus rudaí le déanamh i gceantar an Iúir, Mhúrn agus an Dúin – cén fáth nach nglacfá sos sa cheantar!

Footsteps in the Forest Returns to Slieve Gullion with a Magical Halloween Experience

Are you brave enough to follow the spooky footsteps?

Visit Mourne’s final Giant Adventure for 2022 - ‘Footsteps in the Forest’ - will take place in Slieve Gullion Forest Park from Thursday 27 to Monday 31 October.

This immersive Halloween experience will celebrate the Gaelic festival of Samhain, marking the end of the harvest season and the beginning of winter.  Directed by writer, performer and Newry native, Rozlyn Sheridan, visitors will journey into the ‘otherworld’ to experience the Celtic origins of Halloween.

Costumed characters will guide you along the `Winter’s Return` trail as you try not to waken Slieve Gullion’s sleeping giant. Along the shadowy path look out for the Púca, Jack O Lantern and the famous witch, Calliagh Berra who legend has it tricked Fionn mac Cumhaill into jumping into the lake to find her gold ring, for him to return as a withered old man. As well as spooky characters there will be spectacular illuminations, mythical storytelling and a host of tasks for children to complete along the way.

Speaking about the event, Newry, Mourne and Down District Council Chairperson, Councillor Michael Savage said, “Every year Footsteps in the Forest manages to celebrate, educate entertain and draw attention to the myths, legends, landscape and traditions of this ancient place in a fresh and innovative way.  With a new Halloween theme, Slieve Gullion will once again provide the perfect location for Visit Mourne’s final Giant Adventure of 2022, using the forest, the twilight and a blend of visuals, sound and technology to deliver an imagined world.” 

Chairperson, Cllr Savage continued, “In addition to Footsteps in the Forest, there will be plenty of other scary, fun and spooky events across the destination over the Halloween and midterm break.  Events such as these provide recreation and leisure opportunities for residents and brings visitors and new spending to Newry, Mourne and Down.  They also help to enhance the profile of our towns, villages and parks and I am delighted that people will have so many reasons to staycation here this autumn.”

Footsteps in the Forest will begin each evening at 5.30pm with an autism friendly trail, and run every hour until the last session, which starts at 8.30pm. There will also be an Irish language trail on one of the evenings. Hot drinks and snacks will be available to purchase from the Samhain Village at the event.

Visitors are politely reminded that this event is taking place in the evening at a forest park. As such, the 1.4km trail has uneven ground with a steep incline to start. Warm clothes and appropriate footwear are recommended.

There will be no parking at Slieve Gullion Forest Park during the event, with the exception of blue badge holders. Park and ride facilities will be in operation throughout the festival. Details on the park and ride will be available via the Visit Mourne website. 

Footsteps in the Forest is a free event, but booking is essential. Tickets will go live on Friday 14 Oct at 10am on the Visit Mourne website: visitmournemountains.co.uk so please follow the Visit Mourne social media pages for reminders and updates - @VisitMourne. The Visit Mourne website also features information on accommodation, where to eat and things to do in Newry Mourne and Down – why not make a break of it!