Spooks out for weekend Thriller

A busy weekend of Halloween activities is planned across the country with fireworks displays, ghost tours, hootenannies and a…

A busy weekend of Halloween activities is planned across the country with fireworks displays, ghost tours, hootenannies and a re-enactment of Michael Jackson's zombie-driven Thriller video among the events taking place.

In Dublin, Kila is to headline the Otherworld Festival which takes place in Ballymun between 6pm and 9pm on Sunday. Those in attendance can also expect a fancy dress parade of ghouls and goblins which will move from Balbutcher Lane at 5.45pm to the Civic Plaza as well as a fireworks display.

A Halloween Hootenanny takes place at Dublin's Workman's Club Sunday, with live music from The Cast of Cheers and Daithi O'Drónaí. Tickets are €10.

A re-enactment of Michael Jackson's Thriller takes place at Spanish Arch in Galway at 4pm tomorrow, followed by a series of street performances culminating at St Nicholas's Church at 8.40pm.

In Cork, a Zombie Parade will gather at the top of St Patrick's Hill at 4pm tomorrow before snaking its way downhill to Oliver Plunkett Street and onto the Grand Parade. Further information is available at www.theresistanz.com.

The Spirit of Meath Festival, which has been running for the past week, will culminate on Sunday with a samba band-led procession through Kells.

Belfast's Halloween Metro Monster Mash, which takes place at the Odyssey from 2pm on Sunday, features theatre, live music and face painting, and will culminate at 6pm with what the organisers promise to be Northern Ireland's largest fireworks display.

In Derry, the Banks of the Foyle Halloween Carnival continues, with ghost tours of haunted hotspots, pirate cruises on the River Foyle and fancy dress balls around the city.

The authorities have warned against revellers taking the festivities into their own hands saying that people found using illegal fireworks or lighting bonfires are liable to face penalties.

Dublin City Council said no bonfires are legal, and it does not sanction or licence bonfires held by communities or any other organisations. People engaging in such activity can be fined up to €3,000 under environmental legislation.

Minister for Justice Dermot Ahern warned of the dangers involved in the use of fireworks and said that those found in possession face heavy penalties.

The ISPCA has urged the public to take extra precautions to keep pets safe over the Halloween period. It said veterinary practices were inundated with animals injured by fireworks and bonfires at this time of year and that stray animals often bear the brunt of Halloween pranks.

Met Eireann said the weather today should be mostly dry with sunny spells and that tomorrow would to start out wet but the rain should clear in time for the Halloween festivities.

Meanwhile, winter time commences at 1am on Sunday, which is when clocks and watches should be put back one hour, meaning everyone is entitled to an extra hour in bed.

Steven Carroll

Steven Carroll

Steven Carroll is an Assistant News Editor with The Irish Times