Time travelling twists, creepy crypts and pagan roots are afoot at Bunratty Castle and Folk Park this year for a special Halloween festival to mark the traditional Irish Samhain.
This Halloween mid-term, Bunratty Castle & Folk Park will mark the festival of Samhain in its own unique way.
Focusing on the old Irish traditions and a few modern twists associated with this time of year, visitors are invited to come and experience Samhain from October 29 to November 2.
Explaining the festivities, Bunratty Castle and Folk Park Events Manager Marie Brennan said: “Halloween is always an exciting time for us here at Bunratty Castle and Folk Park, with lots of activities for all the family to enjoy, from the Creepy Crypt, and “Head Will Roll and Thriller” mini disco to the Halloween Spook Train ride, and our Fearsome Fairy Village where unpleasant creatures abide.
“In the weeks leading up to Halloween, primary schools from the local area have been busy creating lifestyle scarecrows which we will have on display in the park over midterm for our Scarecrow Competition. We will be asking visitors to rate their favourite scarecrow based on design, originality and of course “scary-ness”. The school with the winning scarecrow will receive a special prize.
“We are also asking out visitors to get creative and dress in costume, to join the village characters who will be dressed in traditional Halloween attire.”
Throughout the duration of the event, visitors are warned to be on the lookout for weird and wacky creepy characters who could just appear out of nowhere, among them Frankenstein, The Minister of Death, an escaped convict and terrifying witches on the prowl.
Visitors to the park will hear from the Bean and Tí’s, who will explain the types of food that typically would have been eaten in Samhain of old, including homemade Apple Pies, Barmbrack, a slice of which must be left outside before you go to bed so that any passing Faeries or Spirits may feast as well as bestow good luck upon your household.
Some of the fairies of Bunratty Folk Park have got into the Halloween spirit and have transformed their magical fairy village into a frighting forest for all to enjoy. Beware of creepy creatures lurking and hanging behind trees, gruesome gravestones and petrifying pumpkins at every turn, it is sure to keep the littlest of monsters entertained.
The Samhain activities at Bunratty Castle and Folk Park run from Saturday, October 29 to Wednesday, November 2.
Tickets are now on sale at www.bunrattycastle.ie/halloween.
