Tots to teens: Spooktacular family events and a stinky goose's story
Eric Roberts with his storybook, ‘Gary The Stinky Goose’.
It’s an ideal gift for little ones aged three and nine years old, and costs €15.
Everyone deserves a friend. That’s the uplifting message at the heart of the debut children’s book by Ireland AM presenter and social media influencer Eric Roberts.
tells the story of a lovable goose whose constant farting makes it difficult for him to make friends.
Gary doesn’t like being the only smelly one in his flock, and his fellow geese don’t appreciate it much either. But an unexpected opportunity allows him to prove there are benefits to being different.
The book is inspired by Roberts’ close relationship with his nephew Oisín, who has cerebral palsy and is autistic, and his previous experience of working as a special needs assistant.
From both, he learned that children who are different can struggle to find friends.
He hopes to help change that with this book, which is sure to have children of all ages laughing out loud and reflecting on the importance of embracing what makes us different.
- is available for €10 from mayobooks.ie.
Embrace the spirit of Samhain by signing up for a lantern-making workshop and holding it aloft in a parade of light in East Cork this Halloween.
Greywood Arts in Killeagh is hosting a series of lantern-making workshops in which participants of all ages will be shown how to create lanterns from natural willow and paper at 11am and 2pm on Monday, October 27, and again at 6.30pm on Tuesday, October 28.
At 5.30pm on Saturday, November 1, they will then form a lantern-lit procession in a Parade of Light through Glenbower Woods.
There will be sweet treats, hot chocolate and mulled wine in Greywood Arts on the Main Street afterwards.
- Visit greywoodarts.org or search eventbrite.ie for more details.
Families in search of further fearsome frights should make their way to Waterford city and county, which offers lots of eerie entertainment this Halloween.
Waterford City’s Samhain Festival runs from October 25 to 27, with activities kicking off as dusk falls.
These activities include a fire and shadows procession of torchlight, puppetry and a retelling of the story of Dearg Dua, a female vampire who has haunted local lore for centuries.
The Irish Wake Museum is offering a family experience with a “touch of magic” from October 27 to 30. It will take visitors on a journey through the age-old Irish customs and celebrations surrounding life, death, and the afterlife.
Waterford Greenway’s Ballyvoile Tunnel will be transformed into a spooky setting for ghost stories.
The Lafcadio Hearn Japanese Gardens in Tramore hosts events blending Celtic and Japanese folklore, featuring ghostly apparitions and samurai spirits.
There will also be twilight cruises to haunted castles, a spooky express along the Suir Valley Railway, an interactive dragon trail at Mount Congreve and more.
- See visitwaterford.com for further information
This name frame in old Irish lettering makes for an unusual baby, christening or birthday gift.
It’s produced by the Dublin-based business makeitwithwords.com, run by husband and wife Amelia Mantero and Joe Jennings.
They specialise in creating personalised gifts and this is one of their bestsellers.
It features hand-stamped miniature alphabet blocks mounted on a shelf in a matt white box frame.
There’s also the option to add a time or date of birth, christening date or a meaningful quote to the engraving plaque that is attached to the front of the frame.
It costs €49.95 and comes in its own gift box.
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