Living History Walking Tour of Athboy

About this tour

Take a Living History Walking Tour of Athboy in County Meath with the ancient Celtic goddess of Samhain. Hear the true story of Halloween near to where she is reputed to be buried on the Hill of Ward, just outside the town.

The true origin of Halloween began in Athboy, a heritage town in County Meath in the heart of Ireland's historic Boyne Valley. The Living History Walking Tour of Athboy is a 2 hour guided walking tour of the heritage town, led and narrated by the local Celtic goddess of Samhain, Tlachtga. Fiona Dalton is a qualified tour guide and actor who will be your guide on this tour. She brings alive the character of Tlachtga, a local deity whom the Celts worshipped, and who is said to be buried on the hill. Listen to her tragic story while also hearing about the most interesting people and places to see in the town of Athboy. Athboy, in County Meath, has a long and fascinating history. It is the place where the celtic people of ancient Ireland celebrated the beginning of their calendar New Year every October 31st on the Hill of Ward just outside the town. This hill is one of Ireland’s most important sacred sites and its other name is Tlachtga. It's here that the first flames of the Samhain festival were lit to start an annual procession of bonfires all over Ireland, to honour the afterlife and ancestors. So began what we know today as Halloween. The Living History Walking Tour of Athboy is available to book as a living history experience for school tours or visitors. Participants should be over 12 years old, and wear good walking shoes and raingear. The meeting point for the tour is the Tlachtga statue on the Fair Green in Athboy. The tour includes a refreshment stop about half way through at a local hotel. The story of Tlachtga is also available as a floor and stage show.