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Púca Festival, County Meath

| 31 October  - 3 November

A púca is a mysterious creature from Ireland's folklore who can change the fortunes of anyone who meets it. It is this spirit of unpredictable energy that inspires the annual Púca Festival, which takes place across the towns of Trim and Athboy in County Meath, in Ireland’s Ancient East. (Learn More)

Derry Halloween, Derry~Londonderry

| 28 - 31 October

A scary, joyous and fantastically fun carnival in this historic walled city. It’s no surprise that the biggest event in the city’s calendar brings with it an electric atmosphere. Read the 6 reasons to experience Derry Halloween! (Learn More)

Bram Stoker Festival, Dublin

| 25 - 28 October

It's hard to underestimate the legacy of Dracula, a novel that spawned an entire gender of vampire-influenced films, TV and literature. Each October, legions of horror fans descend on Dublin to celebrate the count and his creator at the Bram Stoker Festival. (Learn More)

Crumlin Road Gaol, Belfast |

Hear stories of escapes, executions, deportations and WWII bombings at a Belfast gaol that captures the imagination. Built in 1845, Crumlin Road Gaol played witness to a fraught period of Irish history. (Learn More)

Macnas Halloween Parade, Galway city

| 26 - 27 October

What is Halloween without incredible customs and theatrical entertainment. A spectacular Halloween parade through Galway by this renowned theatre company. (Learn More)

Our spooky and ghoulish headlines do no justice to the rich and deep history that makes Ireland home of Halloween. It’s a tale based on centuries of traditions and founded in celtic ritual. Delve deeper into where it all began with some of our fantastic story ideas and turn out the lights as we treat you to some ghostly goings-on.

Fast facts from the Home of Halloween

From bewitching festivals and fright nights, to ghostly goings on, huge parades, haunted hotels and state-of-the-art pyrotechnics you simply can‘t go wrong taking a Halloween holiday somewhere on the island of Ireland. Here’s some fast facts about Ireland the Home of Halloween. #IrelandHomeofHalloween

Connect with the Celts

As Halloween beckons, we invite you to step back into Ireland’s Celtic history from stunning cliff-edge forts on wild Atlantic islands to dazzling jewellery.

Blazing fires lit on hills in the dark of night, rituals to connect to the “Otherworld” and feasting on nuts and fruit – these are all ways the Celts celebrated Samhain – the ancient festival that Halloween derives from. Back then, it was one of the most important parts of the ancient calendar and heralded the start of winter. (Read More)

Halloween Food on the Island of Ireland

Halloween is traditionally all about harvest season, and where better to enjoy the best autumn produce than in the Home of Halloween.

“In Ireland, we’re lucky to have very distinct seasons,” says Ireland’s best-loved vegetarian chef, Denis Cotter of Cork city’s Paradiso Restaurant, “so we’re really able to enjoy what each season offers.” (Read More)

Halloween, the gateway to Winter on

the island of Ireland

Wrap yourself up in the beauty of winter on the island of Ireland, with glittering night skies, cosy pubs and tranquil walks in spectacular landscapes. Did you know that the Celtic festival of Samhain – the root of Halloween – traditionally marked the start of winter? Today, Halloween is still the gateway to the winter season in Ireland with clocks going back and everything getting that little bit cosier. It’s also one of the most magical times to visit the island of Ireland – think crisp winter walks, fun festivals, dark skies and fire-warmed pubs. (Read More)

Hauntings in the Home of Halloween

Haunted Histories in the Home of Halloween

Don’t blame us if you sleep with the lights on after visiting one of these haunted places on the island of Ireland… From creepy castles to a ghost river, here’s where things go bump in the night.

(Read More)

Super-scary all year round in the

Home of Halloween

Get ready for some super-fun scares – whether you’re after ghostly tales or haunted castles, Ireland has you covered, whatever time of year you visit.

Ireland may be the Home of Halloween, but did you know that there are some great scary spots around the island that you can visit all year? From old haunted castles to ghostly tours –if you want to see the ghoulish side of Ireland on your next visit, here are the places to go…

(Read More)

The Home of Halloween Traditions

stories

Halloween in Ireland is not like Halloween anywhere else… Why? It’s all about the endurance of traditions that span centuries and connect us with our ancient ancestors. As the long, dark nights roll in swiftly like the mist that appears on the autumnal Irish landscape, it’s easy to imagine how the shadows cast by firelight in the ancient Celtic countryside originally ignited the spark of Halloween over two thousand years ago. Halloween's origins are deeply rooted in Ireland, with traditions and customs that date back millennia to ancient Celtic practices. Originally known as the festival of Samhain, it was the day that marked the end of the harvest season and the dawn of winter. (Read More)

Don’t take our word for it, bring your Halloween coverage to life with some of our great Irish characters. Allow our story tellers, folklorists and chefs to transport you to the real home of Halloween and get an authentic glimpse into how we celebrate this fantastic time of year.

To book an interview please contact Bernard McMullen bmcmullan@tourismireland.com

Winifred the Witch | Derry Witch

The first lady of Samhain herself...  Winifred the Witch is in town for Derry Halloween, for the 400th year in a row! (well, it is her favourite Halloween destination!) This wicked woman has got the spells to make you look swell and is so bad at magic, it's positively tragic!

She has travelled the globe for over 700 years (although she doesn't look a day over 600) to party with ghouls and ghosts but has YET to find

a Samhain celebration which awakens the spirits quite like Derry!

Dacre Stoker | Great Grand Nephew of Dracula author Bram Stoker

Dacre Stoker is the great grand-nephew of Irishman Bram Stoker and the international

best-selling co-author of Dracula the Un-Dead (Dutton, 2009). Bram Stoker’s Dracula (1897) introduced the character of Count Dracula and established many conventions of subsequent vampire fantasy. A native of Montreal, Canada, Dacre manages the Bram Stoker Estate.

Talking points for Dacre; Dracula and its inspiration from Ireland, Bram Stoker’s life in Ireland, the Stoker family and Bram Stoker’s legacy.

Dr Kelly Fitzgerald, University College Dublin | Folklorist

Kelly is an Assistant Professor in the School of Irish, Celtic Studies and Folklore, UCD. She graduated in folklore and early (medieval) Irish

at University College Dublin. Her doctoral dissertation was titled: Literary and Oral Interaction in Irish Folklore. She is also Chairperson of ANU Productions and a Director

of the National Folklore Foundation.

Talking points – Irish folklore and celtic traditions.

Clodagh Doyle | Keeper of Irish Folklore

Clodagh Doyle has worked with the Irish Folklife Collection of the NMI for 25 years, and is the Museums longest serving curator. She has a degree in Irish Folklore and Archaeology, with a passion for folklore, ethnology, objects and the NMI.

Talking points for Clodagh; Irish Halloween traditions; Origins of Pumpkin carving, costumes and masks; Halloween and North America.

Regina Sexton | Food & Culinary

Historian

Regina Sexton is a food and culinary historian, food writer, broadcaster and cook. She lecturers across many university programme and she co-ordinates an extensive programme of short courses.  She has been researching and publishing in the area of Irish food and culinary history since 1993. Her research interests include food and identity, food and tradition and food in the Irish country house. She has published widely at academic and popular levels. Her publications include A Little History of Irish Food (Gill and Macmillan, 1998) and Ireland’s Traditional Foods (Teagasc, 1997).

Dr. Allison Galbari | Archeology

Specialist

A researcher, writer, and an educator Allison Galbari’s research combines landscape archaeology, folklore, and Medieval manuscripts to study the early history and possible origins of Halloween. Allison is passionate about archaeology, folklore, and Celtic studies and especially loves being able to teach people about these subjects and their interdisciplinary potential. Currently Allison teaches first years and Master's students about archaeology, Irish studies, and Celtic studies as an occasional lecturer and tutor.