Held by the Dark – A Samhain Yin Yoga & Cacao Gathering is a candlelit evening of rest, reflection, and gentle connection inspired by the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, taking place at 56 Central in Galway City Centre as part of the Café Lates programme.

Facilitated by Gill Carroll, this immersive gathering invites participants to slow down through soft somatic movement and restorative Yin Yoga, creating space to ground, release, and reconnect as we move deeper into the winter season. The evening will include a ceremonial cacao ritual, guided journalling, and a symbolic letting-go practice using flame, encouraging participants to reflect on what they wish to release and carry forward into the darker months. Rooted in Irish folklore and seasonal tradition, the gathering will honour An Cailleach Bhéara, the ancient Irish goddess associated with winter, wisdom, transformation, and the land.

As Samhain is traditionally considered a time when the veil between worlds is thin, the event offers a gentle space to connect with ancestry, memory, intuition, and inner stillness within the warmth of a shared community setting.

Café Lates is a Galway City Council Night-Time Economy initiative supporting businesses to trial later openings, bringing a fresh and vibrant energy to Galway’s evenings. Funded by Galway City Council and the Department of Culture, Communications and Sport.