As legendary comics writer Alan Moore slips into retirement, some of his Irish contemporaries tell Donal O’Keeffe about the genius who had such a huge influence on popular culture

Beautiful landscapes, outdoor activities, medieval architecture — Transylvania has it all. But with Halloween around the corner, Eimear Ryan visited with one thing in mind — vampires.

A new Sligo food trail offers a new take on the city — and a taste of the unexpected, says Caroline Hennessy.

As it’s the day for ghastly creatures, Caomhán Keane looks at what inspired the stories of werewolves, vampires and classic horror films

Geoff Power visits the North Yorkshire landscape that inspired the Bronte sisters and Bram Stoker, and visits the medieval town of York, a haven for anyone with a sweet tooth. 

The castle, atop a mountain in central Romania, can be reached only by climbing 1,480 steps.

Halloween is the ideal time to scare yourself with a good horror movie. Happy to oblige, Declan Burke lists the best horror movies of all time and, for good measure, throws in a list of the five most cursed film sets and five best scary movies for kids.  

There are plenty of tricks and treats on offer to keep families busy this mid-term, writes Ellie O’Byrne

Dracula's castle will have overnight guests on Halloween, marking the first time since 1948 that anyone has slept in the Transylvanian fortress.

Kevin Markham discovers rich pickings on Scotland’s coastlines, east and west...

The Xbox Live Games with Gold for December 2015 have been announced, and it's a really great lineup to finish out the year.

Sick of the commercialism of Hallowe’en nowadays? Want to return to Samhain’s roots? Well maybe it’s time to take a trip to the Aran Islands, says Ken Phelan, and check out the vibrant local traditions of All-Hallow’s Eve

It’s 125 years since the Irish won both the men’s singles and women’s singles at Wimbledon. William O’Riordan looks at the amazing achievement of one Lena Rice.

As a child, Carole wrote long diary entries and letters to anyone who would reply, and as a teenager she wrote short stories. Some were published, and others shortlisted in competitions. 

We’re all good at beating ourselves up when things go wrong. But maybe we shouldn’t says Sharon Ní Chonchúir as learning from blunders is one of life’s most valuable lessons.

Irish political giant Daniel O’Connell has been remembered as the Nelson Mandela of his day as the newest of London’s famous blue plaques was unveiled in his honour.

Vlad Tepes III must find a way to protect his people and his family from the threat of a Turkish invasion.

HAVE you ever wondered what it might have been like when banquets were held in fairytale castles, and the mead flowed freely for ladies and lords of the manor? 

Transformers: Age of Extinction is almost ready to hit Irish cinemas and its already earned over $400 million worldwide.

The newest bridge over the Liffey was officially unveiled today in honour of a forgotten hero of Ireland’s fight for independence.

Cork folk group Stoker’s Lodge, led by Jimmy Crowley, are reuniting after 30 years, says Jo Kerrigan

First-time author Lydia Little has just launched the first of a new series of books based on the adventures of a schoolgirl in a gothic-style castle boarding school with a mysterious past set in enchanting countryside.

Master Schmidt’s second day in big school and it will not prove edifying. A host of lessons await, among them ones in maths, logic and biology.

They may scare you silly, but Irish horror movies should be taken seriously.

The Bram Stoker Festival celebrates the Dublin-born author of Dracula. This year, horror writer and film critic, Kim Newman, has curated a series of films for the festival.

Looking to take the little monsters away for Halloween? Pól Ó Conghaile has some frighteningly good fun for those travelling with or without the family.

SO IT’S almost midnight.

Highlights of next week’s festival

Dublin's newest bridge has been named after the trade unionist and Irish Citizen army activist Rosie Hackett.

The Central Bank was warned of potential design and copyright problems before issuing a flawed James Joyce commemorative coin last month — but went ahead regardless.

Byzantium, partly filmed in Ireland, is Neil Jordan’s second film in the genre he has loved since Bram Stoker’s home first spooked him as a child, says Marc O’Sullivan

Two of Ireland’s top street artists have immortalised great Irish writers in graffiti on a theatre wall.

The Hot Ticket: Derry

Some might say Dublin is a scary enough place in reality, without a famous Gothic movie director putting his dark stamp on the place.

An internet initiative is putting the tradition of storytelling back on the map, writes Richard Fitzpatrick

Jonathan Rhys Meyers is in talks to join the cast of 'The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones'.