With Ann Marie Duffin of Bia Duit and host Shaun Lavelle, featuring tastings by James Gabriel Martin

Want to know why unmarried women would eat salted herring at Samhain? Or how beans could foretell the future of a relationship?

In this special event, Ann Marie Duffin of Bia Duit and host Shaun Lavelle explore the role food plays in Irish folklore, mythology and calendar customs, with a particular focus on Samhain and the end of the harvest.

From foods used for divination and fortune-telling to the beliefs, superstitions and customs surrounding food at this important point in the Irish calendar, the discussion will delve into the rich folklore connected to what we eat. It will also consider how folklore can help uncover, understand and preserve Ireland’s food heritage.

The talk will be accompanied by food from James Gabriel Martin and a pairing drink, inspired by traditional Samhain and seasonal dishes.

About Bia Duit

Bia Duit is a digital project exploring the history, heritage and traditions of Irish food, uncovering the stories behind what we eat and how we remember it.

The project explores Irish food through the lens of cultural memory, looking at food customs and seasonal rituals, regional dishes, forgotten ingredients, folklore and the cultural significance of familiar Irish food brands. It considers food not just as something we eat, but as a way of understanding Ireland’s social and cultural history.

Through research, storytelling, talks and events, Bia Duit brings overlooked food histories and traditions to new audiences, encouraging curiosity and conversation while helping to preserve knowledge that might otherwise be lost. The project has featured at All Together Now and Electric Picnic and on the Three Castles Burning podcast.

Shaun Lavelle is a communications specialist, cultural events programmer and former journalist. As an LGBTQ+ activist, he uses storytelling to uncover the lives of people who were written about in the margins of history.

James Gabriel Martin is a chef, author and photojournalist whose work explores food, culture and storytelling. He also co-founded The Dining Club at Whitestown House, creating unique seasonal dinners inspired by Irish history, mythology and landscape, and is Co-Chair of the Fingal Food Circle, supporting food producers and businesses across Fingal.

This event is part of the Samhain Festival 2026 programme at the Red Chapel, kindly sponsored this year by &Smyth (https://andsmyth.ie/).

*Please note that due to the format of this event, we are unable to accommodate individual dietary requirements.

Description supplied by the event organiser.