Irish stick fighting, traditional dances feature at Salem’s Gaelic celebration of Samhain

This Saturday, Salem’s Celtic heritage group will celebrate the ancient Gaelic festival that inspired American Halloween traditions, from pumpkin carving to trick or treating, at the Willamette Heritage Center.

Samhain (“sow-in”) is a Gaelic holiday often celebrated as early as Oct. 31 and through Nov. 1 to honor the end of the harvest season and transition into the “dark season,” or winter. 

The Samhain Celtic New Year Festival, put on by Céilí (“kay-lee”) of the Valley Society, will be held from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday in the Spinning Room at the Willamette Heritage Center, located at 1313 Mill St. S.E. Festival admission is free. 

Samhain dates back thousands of years, predating the influences of Christianity. 

Beth Nevue, president of Céilí, described Samhain as “a thin time of year when the spirit world can connect with the living world.”

The ancient celebration included traditions of carving turnips to use as lanterns to keep the spirits at bay and dressing up to frighten the neighbors. It also included games for children and a feast of traditional foods.

Céilí is a nonprofit group whose mission is to promote Celtic culture through music and dance. There are seven Celtic nations: Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Cornwall, Brittany, Galicia and the Isle of Man.

This is Céilí’s 10th year putting on the festival. Nevue expects up to 500 attendees to filter through during the day.

Music will start early at 10:15 a.m., with the Willamette Valley Pipes & Drums performing outside to kick off a day full of music and dance. Portland band Na Rósaí Trio will play first at 11 a.m. then again during the final Céilí dance at 4 p.m. The group performs Celtic music using traditional Irish instruments.

The Céilí is a group dance led by “callers,” who will teach attendees some dance steps. An earlier dance will be held at noon in the Spinning Room for all ages.

“The main idea is to have fun and to listen to the caller and get from point A to point B,” Nevue said of the dance. 

In the Spinning Room, there will be craft workshops showing how to fold a Great Kilt and tie Celtic knots, and demonstrations of Celtic calligraphy and traditional dances. Vendors will also fill the room, selling jewelry, clothing, ceramics, metalworks and more.

A series of child-friendly Highland Games will be held outdoors, alongside other physical activities.

Bobby Stroup will showcase Irish stick fighting outside. Stroup, of Scots Irish descent, teaches the art across the Pacific Northwest.

Stroup teaches Doyle Irish stick, a some centuries-old fighting style that incorporates boxing techniques with what is, essentially “punching with a stick in your hand,” Stroup said. The only tool used is a shillelagh, a traditional Irish walking stick. 

Stroup said the art is widely unknown, even among Irish and Irish-American communities, and he is working to bring greater awareness to it. 

“To be a part of that cultural heritage, to keep something alive that kept Irish people fighting, means a lot to me,” Stroup said.

Saturday’s event will include a feast of three soups from three Celtic nations: A meat-based Welsh soup, a vegetarian Irish potato soup and a Scottish chicken-based leek soup. 

Soups will be served starting at 11 a.m. Full meals, including a side salad and Irish soda bread, go for $10 for a cup of soup and $13 for a bowl. Single servings are $6 for a bowl and $9 for a cup.

Other foods, like scones, shortbread cookies, chips and beverages will also be available for purchase.

Have a news tip? Contact reporter Hailey Cook: [email protected] .

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