Samhain: Renewal, Gratitude, Community

Loss is nothing else than change.
— Marcus Aurelius

The darkness comes before the light. The light will always follow.

The Light

Yesterday, people from the area gathered in a neighbour’s house for a coffee and cake morning supporting both the Africa Uganda Comfort Fund and Pádraig. It was a sunny, warm, autumn morning in the company of friends we don’t see that often but who are always helping out when help is needed.

A former work colleague, an Irish language scholar, a family with children the same age as ours who had gone to school together, an avid gardener who always shares her freshly homemade stewed apple with Pádraig, the man who drove the (in)famous 10,000 mile-long Mongol Ralley (“There is no set route, no backup, and no guarantee of finishing.”) raising funds for Pâdraig. And many more. I’d say that, give or take, about a hundred people came together yesterday morning for two good causes. Thanks to the initiative of one woman (and her family) with the heart in the right place and a community spirit second to none.

Thank you to all!

A Period of Renewal, Gratitude, and Community Connection

Like everything else, well: almost everything else, Halloween originated, more than 2,000 years ago, in Ireland, as the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain.

On Samhain night, the boundary between the living world and the spirit world (the otherworld) grows very thin. Ancestors are coming back home But mischievous or harmful spirits and creatures—like the púcaor banshees—cross over too. Overall, it is a deeply positive, comforting, and celebratory festival.

To the Celts, it was not, and for us it is not, a time of fear or terror, it is a meaningful period of renewal, gratitude, and community connection.

In An Saol, Pádraig celebrated Samhain on Friday with 50 other clients and their families.

Everybody dressed up. (Pádraig as Harry Potter, with the original scar.) We had home-made cakes and Halloween biscuits. And, of course, pumpkin cutting.

There was a Halloween scary movie quiz, an even scarier Halloween dance display, and a Halloween dress competition.

Pure genius. Fun. Community.

Become a Friend. Bring a Friend. Celebrate with Friends.

If you haven’t already joined, the An Saol Foundation would love to welcome you as one of their first 500 Friends Around the World – join them here AND ask 10 of your friends to do the same.

On Monday, 30 November, from 17:00 to 20:00, we will gather in the beautiful Thomas Prior Hall, Ballsbridge, for Adventfest 2026. Join us! It will be a very special evening of music, friendship, hope and new beginnings. Get your free ticket here.

It seems more than a week ago but it’s just been those seven days. I won’t forget that it was a cold, windy, but dry and sunny Sunday morning in Dublin. I was there with around 20,000 people on Merrion Square getting ready to run those 42 km over the coming hours. I did. And while I didn’t break any records. I was, I am, a Proud Finisher.