Darina Allen remembers the original spirit of Halloween

WOW, we’re really got the bit between our teeth about Halloween at last. We’re every bit as commercial as the US, I couldn’t believe the number of spooky festivals in Ireland this season.

Some like the Spirits of Meath (where according to legend Halloween began – really ...) started on October 14 and continues until November 6 with a huge programme of family oriented events.

There’s a Halloween festival in Galway, a Halloween House in Kenmare, haunted woods around Birr Castle, Bram Stoker Festival in Dublin when Macnas will stage a twilight procession on October 26, but voted ‘best of all’ earlier this year is the evocatively named Pooka Spooka at Causey’s Farm and Farmaphobia in Co Meath. Check out www.causey.ie and www.farmaphobia.ie.