Top ten great Irish Halloween costume ideas -- get prepped to impress

PHOTOS - 10 Irish Halloween costume ideas

Lacking in Halloween costume ideas and want to impress your Irish friends?

Well look no further than IrishCentral’s Irish Halloween costume guide!

We’ve come up with 10 ideas for those of you who want to express your Irish spirit without resorting to a “slutty leprechaun” or “leprechaun pimp” costume.

Trust us – show up to your local Irish pub in one of these getups, and the Guinness drinkers will be more than impressed.

1. Bono

An obvious go-to Irish costume is Ireland’s biggest rock star – Bono. An original getup? Maybe not. But Irish people love to have a go at the over-the-top U2 frontman.

There’s flexibility with this one: your hair can be long or short, and your wraparound transparent space-like glasses can be orange or blue. Plus, you can opt for the cowboy hat or non-cowboy hat look. Just be sure to sport all black (preferably leather) and tote a mic – and an armful of faux-Grammys.

If these seems like too much time and effort for you, you can always go with the more low-key look of The Edge. Grab a guitar, slap on a beanie, skip shaving for a few days and you’re good to go!

2. Shane MacGowan

Another big Irish personality you can emulate is Pogues’ frontman Shane MacGowan.

If you’re already a toothless, heavy-drinking Irishman, this look won’t be too hard to achieve.

If not, a few simple steps will get you on the way of transforming into the wild punk legend.

First, skip the showering for a few days. It’s especially important not to wash your hair.

It’s also crucial to put down the toothbrush – or just black out about ¾ of your teeth.

Don’t forget to grow (or draw on) scruffy facial hair and make sure those dark circles under your eyes stand out.

Lastly, grab a drink (or 20) and a cigarette, and you’re good to go!

Read more on our featured Halloween page - everything from history, recipes, costume ideas and ghoulish tales

3. Oscar Wilde

For all you fancy-schmancy literary types, the Oscar Wilde “aesthetic dress” costume may be the right choice for you.

The iconic writer and Ireland’s most famous dandy loved to strut around in capes, fur-adorned coats and flowing ties. He was also rarely ever seen with a walking stick.

To achieve the Wildean look, get yourself a purple velvet coat (fur trimming is a bonus), a long dark wig (curled under), an elaborate scarf or tie, large rings (necklaces, bracelets, and other jewelry wouldn’t hurt either) and an elegant walking stick. Don’t forget to stock up on witty puns to dish out to your friends.

4. Bram Stoker’s Dracula

To linger in the literary family for a moment, another Irish costume option is Bram Stoker’s Dracula. No – not the slicked-back black hair, red and black cape Dracula we know from the original movie, but Irishman Bram Stoker’s original vision of the vampire.

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Nster.com