There are lots of Halloween events taking place across Ireland this October Bank Holiday Weekend with plenty to keep mummies (human ones) and all the family occupied during the mid-term break. We’ve selected a handful to give you some inspiration. Here’s to a BOO-tiful weekend ahead!
Halloween Events & Activities
1. DUBLIN
The Bram Stoker Festival takes place from Friday 26th to Monday 29th. A series of family-friendly events is planned in different venues around the city including Dracula’s Disco on Sunday in Meeting House Square, Temple Bar, a screening of Little Shop of Horrors in The Botanic Gardens on Saturday and Stokerland 2018, pop-up Victorian fun park beside St. Patrick’s Cathedral.
2. CORK
Cork City Gaol plays host to Halloween during the mid-term break from Monday 29th to Friday 2nd. Fancy dress is encouraged as you take part in their Black Cat treasure hunt, face painting, balloon making and story-telling. It’s sure to be frightfully good!
3. GALWAY
The Galway Aboo Halloween Festival takes place across the city from Friday 26th to Monday 29th. It claims to be the largest Halloween Festival in the country with lots of themed events for ghosts and ghouls of all ages. The annual Halloween parade by Macnas will take place on Sunday at around 5:30pm. Spectators are encouraged to wear costumes too; see if you can outdo and out-BOO them.
4. KILKENNY
If you’re around Kilkenny this Halloween, why not try a ghost tour through the ‘medieval capital of Ireland’. Take a trip down narrow side lanes and alongside remnants of its city walls. There is history and fright at every turn. Full details can be found here.
5. SLIGO
Scare In The Park runs at Sligo Folk Park, Riverstown from Saturday 27th to Monday 29th, from 6pm to 8pm each night. There will be lots of things happening over the weekend including arts and crafts, games and prizes, music, pumpkin carving and Haunted Millview House.
6. KILDARE
A free viewing of the classic Halloween film Horror of Dracula will be shown at Castletown House, Celbridge on Saturday 27th between 4pm and 5:30pm. This is a free event so your wallet need not be scared!
7. CORK
Someone in Youghal, County Cork had definitely had a full eight hours’ sleep when they came up with Youghaloween, which runs from Thursday 25th to Sunday 28th. It kicks off at 7:30pm on the Friday with an ‘opening ritual’ and fireworks at The Mall beach. No doubt youghal will enjoy it… y’all/youghal… geddit?
8. DERRY
Finally, Derry claims to be the best Halloween destination in the world and you are certain to see plenty of Derry Girls and Ghouls during the festivities. There are so many events taking place and there is surely something to suit every age group including a Fancy Dress Dog Walk on Wednesday 24th. See their website for all you need to know.
More Halloween fun!
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Photo by William Murphy, used under CC BY-SA 2.0 licence
