Ireland's new 'Halloween hubs' extend celebrations for 2025
Experience Halloween in Ireland, where it all began and where extended culturally rich festivals offer an immersive Celtic adventure.
2024, Púca Festival, Trim Castle, Co Meath
Ireland is the Home of Halloween, so it’s no surprise that the island goes all out to celebrate the festival and its ancient Celtic roots. Across the country, 31 October is marked with all manner of spooky festivities but in seven special ‘Halloween hubs’, the celebrations last for four or five weeks offering a broad range of immersive, culturally rich experiences.
Halloween has its roots in the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain which marked the beginning of winter. People believed that this was when the veil between this world and the next was thinnest allowing ghosts, fairies and demons to pass through and menace the living. The Celts would light bonfires and wear costumes to confuse and scare off roaming spirits, practices that have made their way into modern-day Halloween festivities.
The seven new Halloween hubs will host Samhain-inspired festivals from late October into November giving visitors the opportunity for a deep dive into ancient Celtic traditions, culture, and folklore and the chance to see examples of how these have been reimagined with a contemporary twist.
Macnas, Halloween Parade, Galway City
In Galway city on the Wild Atlantic Way, the Halloween hub theme will be coastal magic and maritime myths. Among the highlights of the festival will be the fabulous Macnas Parade (26 October). Limerick’s five-week festival will blend folklore, creativity and community celebration and County Kerry will honour Wild Atlantic rituals and present fiery celebrations.
Counties Longford and Westmeath in the Hidden Heartlands will celebrate Ireland’s ancient tales while Fingal (Dublin) will highlight its historic castles and stage seaside shenanigans. Beautiful Kilkenny will feature medieval harvest traditions in its four-week programme exploring food history and local folklore.
County Meath and, in particular, the Hill of Ward, is taken to be the birthplace of Samhain. Here, over 2,000 years ago, the Celts lit the great winter fire from which all other fires were lit. Meath and its neighbour County Louth join forces in a Halloween hub that presents four Samhain festivals. Among these is the hugely successful and entertaining Púca Festival. One of the island’s flagship Halloween events, Púca is four days of storytelling, music, food, mischief and spectacle that attracts almost 50,000 visitors each year.
2022 Samhain Festival, Killua Castle, Guided Tour, Co Westmeath
All the Halloween hubs offer family-friendly daytime activities as well as after dark entertainment for adults. Firelit processions, ghostly storytelling, traditional music, seasonal food, contemporary art, and interactive performances are just some of the events that pepper the programmes that will bring Ireland’s Halloween heritage to life.
As autumn gives way to winter, Ireland’s landscape takes on a brooding cast that imbues it with an otherworldly and magical dimension. Visiting at this time of year offers the chance to enjoy this atmospheric setting with fewer crowds. Combine long walks with cosy fireside drinks, take time to absorb the rich heritage written in the streets and buildings of towns and cities, and sink into the world of the ancient Celts at the many superb Samhain celebrations across the land.