Working Life: Enjoy Halloween celebrations — while keeping health and safety in mind

Dr Katharine Harkin, consultant in public health medicine, Child Health Public Health, HSE

Wed, 29 Oct, 2025 - 11:01

Catherine Shanahan

“I grew up in Swinford, Co Mayo and after finishing secondary school I moved to Dublin to study pharmacy at Trinity College. Qualifying as a pharmacist gave me the opportunity to work closely with patients, in both hospital and community settings, helping them manage chronic illnesses and regularly advising patients on healthy living and disease prevention.

“From the very beginning of my career, I saw just how important prevention and early intervention are to long-term health. That experience inspired me to study medicine in NUI Galway, where I’ve stayed ever since. Initially, I worked in hospital medicine for a few years, but I found myself increasingly drawn to public health medicine. It felt like the right fit as it focuses on prevention and population wellbeing.

“No two days are ever the same working in public health. I work closely with public health nurses on the HSE School Health Programme, which provides free health services to children in primary and secondary schools. Together, we’re constantly looking for ways to strengthen and improve how we support children’s health and wellbeing.

“I’ve always had a strong interest in child health and child safety, but since becoming a parent myself, that interest has grown significantly. Experiencing first-hand challenges parents face has made me even more passionate about providing clear, practical guidance to parents and families.

"One of the ways I do that is through my work on the HSE’s mychild.ie website, an evidence-based resource for parents. I found this site incredibly helpful myself, long before I ever worked on it. It now features over 500 guides covering everything from pregnancy to the early years of parenting.

“Outside of work, I love catching up with friends and spending time with my children, usually ferrying them to their various activities. Right now, we’re in full Halloween mode, getting witch, fairy and K-pop demon-hunter costumes ready and soaking up the excitement.

“We want everyone to enjoy Halloween celebrations while keeping health and safety in mind. There are some simple steps parents can take to help prevent injuries, such as checking costumes for the CE mark and a ‘flame resistant’ label, avoiding choking hazards for younger children in trick-or-treat bags and making sure everyone is visible when out after dark.

“Our goal is to support parents in creating a fun and safe Halloween and a healthy future for all.”