Ireland: home of Halloween

Every year, across the island of Ireland, there are a wide range of celebrations for Halloween. You’ll find a nice mix of quirky local fare, and sprawling festivals that are known the world over. If you’re around Dublin, make sure to try the Haunted History Tour, where you can learn the spooky tales that have frightened the locals for centuries…

Want to travel further afield? The Púca Festival is a folklore-infused celebration of Ireland as the original birthplace of Halloween. The event takes place in County Meath in Ireland’s Ancient East, and is filled to the brim with dazzling spectacle, music, harvest food and more. In Northern Ireland, Derry Halloween is a must see. For over 35 years, this event has captured the imaginations of visitors to the famous Walled City, with several events celebrating the city’s unbridled creativity…

Can’t make it to the island of Ireland for Halloween? Don’t worry, you can recreate the magic of the Halloween season from the comfort of home, no matter where you are in the world.

First off, you’ll want some barmbrack. This bread/cake is a staple of every Irish household at Halloween. And a note to any young romantics in your family – if they find the ring in the cake, they’ll be married within the year! And for your dinner, you must have colcannon – curly kale cabbage mixed with creamy mashed potatoes.

After dinner and before trick or treating, you have to partake in some of the traditional Halloween games. The most famous is snap apple, where an apple is suspended from a string while the blindfolded revellers try to get a bite. You can also try bobbing for apples in water, just be sure to bring a towel!