Halloween & its Creepy Irish Origins

Children in vividly painted clown and skull masks at a Samhain (or Hallowe'en) Festival, one of Ireland's traditional autumn celebrations marking the turn of the Celtic year.
Two children in glowing, ethereal costumes with painted skeletal faces take part in Hallowe'en street festival, celebrating Ireland's ancient Samhain roots.
Pumpkins, coconuts and a handmade jack-o'-lantern decoration bring seasonal cheer to a farmers' market stall, alongside fresh local produce.

Saturday, 31 October 2026

Event times:

14:30 - 16:45

Event location:

Tree of Gold, Central Plaza (meeting point)

Event price:

€27.00

About this event

Modern Halloween may seem American-born, but it crossed the Atlantic with Irish immigrants centuries ago. Join us on this walking tour to explore the ancient, macabre Irish folklore that shaped the traditions we know today.

Want a chilling experience? Not too chilling — we want you entertained, not terrified. But we do venture into the supernatural and the origins behind Halloween customs we still enjoy today.

Halloween began as a Christian overlay on the ancient Irish feast of Samhain. The Celts revered their ancestors — and feared them too. On this night, the veil between worlds thinned and spirits, mostly malevolent, walked the land. People devised tactics to protect themselves, customs that survive today as Halloween traditions.

Irish writers drew on this folklore for their own spectral creations — The Picture of Dorian Gray, Melmoth the Wanderer, Carmilla, and Dracula. We'll dip into it all, and try not to get splashed in blood!

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