Discover Ireland’s Halloween festivals of myth and magic

When autumn falls across the Island of Ireland, the air fills with something more than just crisp leaves and candlelit pumpkins; it is the spirit of Samhain, the ancient Celtic festival that gave birth to Halloween. This October, visitors are invited to experience that magic firsthand through Ireland’s new Halloween Hubs, where myth, folklore, feasting, and spectacle bring the season to life.   

Across the country, communities are reclaiming their place as the authentic home of Halloween with festivals, parades, and events rooted in thousands of years of tradition. From tracing ancient mythological pathways to experiencing world-class spectacles of light, these hubs offer an array of immersive experiences that honor the mystical connection between the living and the spirit worlds.   

Boyne Valley (Meath & Louth)

This area is justly celebrated as the global birthplace of Halloween Celebrations. Meath and Louth host a five-week program focused on the four major Samhain Festivals, running from October 1 to November 9. The Spirits of Meath Festival offers "Fun by Day" or "Fright by Night" events throughout October, perfect for families and thrill-seekers alike.

A performance at the Puca Festival.

The centerpiece is the Púca Festival, which serves as the official flagship event of Halloween. This fun and otherworldly celebration culminates in three nights of music, fire, feasting, and mischief in Trim and Athboy, reopening pathways carved by travelers over 2000 years ago. By focusing on the shape-shifting figure of the Púca, this festival acknowledges the essential Celtic tradition of honoring the harvest and embracing the supernatural. Visitors can also enjoy the Lú Festival of Light in Drogheda and Emerald Park's After Dark events.

Lú Festival of Light in Drogheda.

Galway City

Galway transforms itself through Gaillimh Ah-Boo, a month-long celebration mixing food, folklore, and high-quality street spectacle, with provisional dates running from October 1 through November 9. The world-famous Macnas Parade takes to the city streets on October 26, creating a renowned theatrical experience.   

The Newt part of Macnas' 2024 Halloween Parade.

 A standout feature that appeals to sophisticated travelers is Blás na Samhain, where eight Samhain Supper Clubs take place in local restaurants. An Irish folklore figure, such as the Cailleach or the Banshee, inspires each club. Chefs design unique menus using seasonal, locally sourced ingredients, enhancing the atmospheric setting with live storytelling or ambient performance. Additionally, the city features miniature theater installations that tell spectral stories, animating vacant shopfronts across Galway with a trail of wonder and myth, linking local lore directly into the urban nighttime economy.   

Ireland's Hidden Heartlands (Longford & Westmeath)

This hub creates a cultural corridor along An Esker Riada, the ancient, storied east-west passage linking sacred sites such as Rathcroghan and the Hill of Uisneach. The initiative, themed Samhain Fire, Folklore & Feasting, runs until November 9 and is designed to create a program of events that reflect an ancestral journey.   

 The narrative follows the path of The Morrigan, the Phantom Queen, as it explores the origins of Samhain. She is described as releasing the spirits of the underworld at Owenagat in Rathcroghan, trailing them down the Celtic highway towards the Corlea Trackway and continuing on to Uisneach. Key events include the Dead of Night Festival and the Harvest Food Festival in Longford, with the celebrations culminating in Samhain on Uisneach. Visitors are invited to follow this historical route, experiencing storytelling, spectacle, and fire rituals deeply rooted in Iron Age Celtic mythology.

Celebrate Halloween in Ireland.

Kerry

Kerry’s Samhain Chiarraí is a powerful celebration centered around the return of the Cailleach Chiarraí, the wise and wild hag of winter. The county promises a rekindling of dúchas, a deep sense of belonging, heritage, and place. The program runs from mid-October through November 11.   

The highlight is the Signature Samhain Parade, which celebrates the Cailleach’s homecoming with fire displays, wolves, and mythological creatures. Beyond the spectacle of Kenmare’s Halloween Howl, Kerry champions the oral tradition. The Sneem International Storytelling & Folklore Festival incorporates tales associated with Samhain and invites storytellers to share local legends, creating immersive experiences around the art of oral tradition and traditional Irish music.

Fingal (North County Dublin)

Fingal hosts the Festival of Fire & Light across North County Dublin, running from late September through early November. This festival provides an awe-inspiring spectacle of music and light in four unique locations, including Malahide Castle and Bremore Castle.

Celebrate Halloween in Ireland.

The key drawing card is the ‘Lanterns’ interactive lighting display at Newbridge House. This is a custom-made, one-of-a-kind experience that brings North America’s largest Halloween event producer to Ireland, assuring a premium, large-scale visual event. This professional production presents an impressive display that blends fire and light with local heritage. Visitors can also experience The Dining Club Samhain at Whitestown House and enjoy spectacular parades on October 30 and 31.

Limerick

Limerick celebrates the six-week theme "Where Darkness Dances with Delight," running from October 1 until mid-November. The most striking feature is the transformation of the historic King John’s Castle into The Banshee’s Keep, a fully immersive haunted experience featuring live actors and historical horror tours. After dark, the castle becomes a fearsome venue for adult-oriented scare shows and interactive theater.

Halloween Parade, Limerick.

Additionally, the region hosts the Fire & Shadows Procession, a magical pageantry that introduces the Spirits of the Forest along with the ghostly tale of Limerick's illustrious Bishop's Lady. Key county towns and villages are designated as Haunted Hamlets, adopting local folklore and myths to illuminate eerie trails and host community events. This deep immersion links authentic local lore to a modern, high-thrill experience.

Kilkenny

Kilkenny offers a rich blend of medieval history and harvest celebration, commencing late October. Savor Kilkenny, a renowned harvest festival, marks the end of autumn and is held in the shadows of the stunning Kilkenny Castle, showcasing the best of Irish produce.   

This focus on autumnal bounty provides a powerful contrast to the dark history explored by the Toil and Trouble Festival, which runs through early November. Toil and Trouble is an authentic Samhain experience that focuses on the local lore of the medieval witch trials in Kilkenny. Specifically, it aims to immerse international visitors in the poignant local history, including the story of the burning of Petronella. Families can also enjoy Witches and Wizards at Castlecomer Discovery Park throughout October.

From ancient burial sites to bustling city streets, Ireland is alive this October with ghostly legends, feasts inspired by folklore, and festivals that balance fright with fun. Whether drawn by eerie history, enchanted by powerful storytelling, or thrilled by parades of fire and light, Ireland’s Halloween Hubs promise something unforgettable. This autumn, step into the birthplace of Halloween and discover where myth, fire, and folklore meet the modern festival spirit—only in Ireland.

For more information visit Ireland.com.

Ireland is not just a destination, it's a feeling. Follow your heart to Ireland and discover the adventure that awaits you. Whether you decide to wander through 5,000 years of history in Ireland’s Ancient East, breathe in Ireland’s magnificent west coast along the Wild Atlantic Way, embrace a giant spirit in Northern Ireland, or enjoy the unspoiled majesty of Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands.

This article is presented proudly in partnership with Tourism Ireland. To learn more about Tourism Ireland and get inspired for your next visit to Ireland, check out their website at Ireland.com.