Delve into the spirit of Samhain at Ireland’s great Halloween festivals

The Irish really know how to celebrate Halloween, and well they should. For Halloween is the modern incarnation of the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain that has been celebrated on the island for over 2,000 years. 

Samhain was one of four Celtic festivals in pre-Christian Ireland. With fire and feasting, it marked the end of summer and the beginning of the new year. But it was tinged with trepidation as the Celts believed that it was on that day that the worlds of the living and the dead were at their closest and that spirits could move between them.  

Fearing that all manner of beings might pull them into the otherworld before their time, the Celts would light fires to scare off the roaming spirits and disguise themselves in costumes to confuse them – traditions that have survived into modern-day Halloween customs.  

Ireland’s claim to be the birthplace of Halloween is not just wishful thinking. Academics such as Dr Allison Galbari have studied the festival of Samhain as the origin of Halloween drawing on medieval manuscripts, while archaeologists have identified sacred places on the island that show evidence of intense burning and were associated with communal rituals.  

These include the Hill of Ward (Tlachtga), County Meath, believed to have been the major centre for Samhain celebrations, and the Hill of Tara, County Meath, considered to be one of the island’s most sacred spaces and a towering presence in the island’s history and mythology. And in County Roscommon, the unassuming Oweynagat cave has for millennia been known as the Gate to Hell that opened at Samhain. 

With its deep connections to the ancient celebrations of Samhain, County Meath is the location for one of Ireland’s biggest Halloween festivals, Púca (30 October – 2 November) named after the shape-shifting character from Celtic folklore. This year’s theme Connecting with Our Roots celebrates ancestral ties to the land and spirit of Samhain. Over four days, the festival will showcase the best in Irish music, spectacle, parades and performance inviting visitors to experience the deep connection between landscape, heritage and living tradition. On 31 October the Lighting of the Samhain Fire will honour the ancestors. 

In the historic walled city of Derry~Londonderry, Europe’s biggest Halloween party runs 28–31 October with fantastic street celebrations and over 120,000 festival-goers, most of whom dress up to get into the ‘spirit‘ of things. Derry Halloween highlights include the Awakening the Walled City Trail which passes all manner of spooky sights and sounds and a multitude of immortal creatures roaming the streets. The festival culminates with the spectacular Carnival Parade – a huge procession of innovative floats, talented performers and crazy costumes. 

Dublin puts on a Gothic-themed Halloween festival that celebrates its famous son, Bram Stoker, creator of the dreaded Dracula. Over four days and nights the city reveals its dark side and revels in delving into its Gothic heritage and the folklore than inspired the creation of the famous vampire. Street spectacle, theatre, art, talks, tours and family-friendly events make up the varied programme of the Bram Stoker Festival (31 October – 3 November). 

Also in Dublin, running over 22 nights in October, is The Nightmare Realm voted Europe’s Best Scream Park and Most Immersive Scare Experience. With five mazes, three scare zones, Halloweentown, live entertainment, music and a food court, the indoor event is not for the faint-hearted but unmissable for those who love to be frightened out of their wits. 

Elsewhere on the island, Halloween will be in full swing across every town and city with extended celebrations in seven new Halloween hubs that will host Samhain-inspired festivals from late October into November.  

From the awesome Macnas Halloween Parade in Galway – famous for its giant puppets and wild creativity – to a series of murder mystery evenings and haunted experiences in Belfast, there will be spooky shenanigans to suit every taste. 

Whether you want to honour the authentic roots of Halloween, scare yourself silly, or seek out family-friendly fun, your destination should be Ireland, the home of Halloween.  

www.ireland.com