Spirits of Meath Halloween Festival gets underway
Samhain, the ancient Celtic Festival now known as Halloween, reputedly originated in Meath more than 2,000 years ago. To mark the connection, the county is staging the Spirits of Meath Halloween Festival over 10 days, beginning this Friday, 22nd October. Samhain marks the end of the old Celtic year and the beginning of the new year. One of the main spiritual centres of the ancient Celts was located at the top of the Hill of Tlachtga, now called the Hill of Ward, near Athboy, where it all began. The Spirits of Meath Halloween Festival will see 40 spine-tingling events taking place in every corner of the county, making it Ireland’s biggest (and scariest!) Halloween festival, promising delights and frights equally. There are lots of family events to choose from and many free events to 'ghost’ into. Children can enjoy a day of making scabs and scars, 'Puca Puppets’ and collecting the hazelnuts to trade with the 'old Hag’ for a 'treat’, free of charge at the Pucas and Potions Children’s Arts Day in Dunshaughlin on 31st October. Halloween events at Grove Open Farm and Gardens and Causey Farm are back by popular demand with both hosting their most terrifying experiences yet. 'Haunted Spooktacular’ at Grove and 'Farmaphobia’ at Causey will run throughout the festival and both will also have events aimed at smaller children running on selected dates. Funtasia’s Halloween Frightfest runs daily throughout the festival. Free events in Meath this Halloween include the Spooky Cake Competition from An Troman Café in Trim, Crafty Witches Workshops at Bru na Boinne (Newgrange) Visitor Centre over both weekends of the festival, Halloween Festive Arts and Crafts at Shanks Mare Pub, Summerhill, on 31st October; Barm Brack Demonstrations at Harvest Home Bakery, Trim, on 27th and Gory Stories at the Battle of the Boyne Centre on 30th. The Samhain Sounds Busking Festival will entertain those on the streets of Navan on Saturday 23rd October and the Dusk Trim Market on Sunday 24th will feature a special procession and dance performance through the town by the world-famous Chinese-Irish Dance Company and the Lung Ying company with their Chinese dragons. Dunboyne Castle Hotel and Spa will host a ghoulishly good craft and food fair on the 31st October. Dr Orrible’s Singalong Emporium will be at Trim Visitor Centre from 27th to 30th October and a hands-on 'Creepy Cuisine’ cookery course for kids takes place at Fairyhouse Cookery School on 27th. The Newgrange Hotel will be running 'Tours of Terror’ on demand and Halloween fancy dress parties will take place at Teach na Teamhrach and the Newgrange Hotel, Navan, on 30th. The Headfort Arms Hotel Fright Club is back will have its Halloween wine night at The Vanilla Pod in Kells on 29th October. The Kells Samhain Experience on 30th October will provide the history of Halloween while enjoying some theatre. Deirdre Rogers will teach how to carve a pumpkin on 28th and 30th and a Halloween Trick or Treat Cookery School takes place in the Station House Hotel, Kilmessan, on 24th October. 'Pucas & Piseogs’ folklore, songs and music evening takes place on Sunday 31st October in Crossakiel while Loughcrew Gardens will host its annual 'Oiche na Shamhain’ earlier the same day. Halloween in Meath would not be complete without experiencing the sacred traditional torchlit procession to the Hill of Ward (Tlachtga) where it all began in Athboy on Halloween night. See www.meathtourism.ie for all the up-to-date information on this year’s festival; email info@meathtourism.ie or call (046) 909 7060 for a free programme of events.