Macnas on the streets of Dublin for Bram Stoker Festival. Photo: Allen Kiely / Olga KuzmenkoThe Bram Stoker festival kicked off last nightBallygally Castle – At night. Photo: Tourism Northern IrelandDublin Circus ProjectGrand stairway in Loftus HallBram Stoker (1845 – 1912) wrote the classic horror story 'Dracula' in 1897. Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty ImagesHill of Tara. Photo: Fáilte IrelandLoftus Hall, Co. Wexford. Photo: Aidan Quigley/Fáilte IrelandOrlaith Kelly and David Smith from Corbally with Dr Lucretia Hardiman, pictured at the Launch of Spook-tacular Science at King Johns Castle, Limerick. Pic. Brian ArthurPictured is Aidan Quigley, proprietor of Loftus Hall and Mrs Bennett. Picture: Patrick Browne
Halloween Hotlist 2018: Six spook-tacular things to do in Ireland
Independent.ie
For me, the most frightening thing about the run-up to Halloween is the amount of time I spend talking about Christmas.
For me, the most frightening thing about the run-up to Halloween is the amount of time I spend talking about Christmas.
This week, Ive left that to Nicola Brady (see her Top 10 Christmas Markets), freeing myself up for a preview… here are six Irish trips worth taking this Halloween.
1. Hook Head Horrors
Loftus Hall is said to be Irelands most haunted building (I even get shivers driving past in summer). Halloween season includes tours tailored for the Over-5s, Over-12s, Over-15s and adults-only. Paranormal lockdowns are sold out over Halloween, but a fresh date has been added on November 17… if you dare. loftushall.ie.
This October sees Carlow unveil its first Halloween festival. Scarefest includes a Public Witch Trial at the courthouse on October 28… if found guilty, the witch will be brought to the town hall and burned at the stake (in a fire show crafted by the Dublin Circus Project, thankfully). There are paranormal investigations at Ducketts grove, too. scarefest.ie.
Bram Stoker (1845 – 1912) wrote the classic horror story 'Dracula' in 1897. Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images
Author Bram Stoker cut his teeth in Dublin, and the Bram Stoker Festival offers several bloody good reasons to visit. Creature Features sees Arachnaphobia, Little Shop of Horrors and Invasion of the Body Snatchers screening at the National Botanic Gardens, for example, while Victorian theme park Stokerland returns to St Patricks Park, and a Macnas Parade leaves Moore Street at 7pm on October 28. bramstokerfestival.com.
The Boyne Valley can claim to be the birthplace of Samhain, when the Celtic year ended and the dead passed between worlds. Spirits of Meath reboots the ancient festival with a host of events, including lantern-lit canoe trips on the River Boyne, a spooky tour of Slane Castle, and a Flame of Samhain festival on the Hill of Ward in Athboy. spiritsofmeath.ie.
5. Going bump at Bunratty
Orlaith Kelly and David Smith from Corbally with Dr Lucretia Hardiman, pictured at the Launch of Spook-tacular Science at King Johns Castle, Limerick. Pic. Brian Arthur
Sick of supermarket pumpkins? Bunratty Castle & Folk Park has a pumpkin-picking event on October 28, where you can pick and paint your fave, before taking it home to pop in the window. There are bank holiday shows and games, and a chance for older kids to explore the crypt, too. Shannon Heritage is also running a 'Spook-tacular Science' event at King John's Castle in Limerick (above). shannonheritage.com.
6. Antrims Ghost Room
Lots of hotels are doing Halloween packages, but you can step up the scare factor at Ballygally Castle on the Causeway Coast. The hotel has a genuinely creepy ghost room in one of its old towers (reached via a spiral stone staircase). B&B starts from £65/€74pp, and its also got a Halloween-themed afternoon tea. hastingshotels.com.
