Halloween is a-coming and where better to stage events that at St Patrick’s Cathedral in Dublin.
The series of tombs in the walls, death masks of Jonathan Swift, and ghost sightings on the stairs create the perfect setting for the cathedral's All Hallow's Eve Festival.
A myriad of Halloween themed events inspired by the history on the church's grounds takes place on Monday next. The festival, part of the cathedral's education programme, gives an incentive to families to come explore what Cathedral administrator Gavin Woods called an overlooked landmark.
Over 300,000 people visit St Patrick's Cathedral a year, said Mr Woods, but only a tiny fraction of those are Irish. The goal of the festival is to bring locals into the cathedral with Halloween events.
Two death masks of Jonathan Swift are displayed near the author and former cathedral Dean's tomb in the church. Inspired children can try their hand at making their own Halloween masks.
Mr Swift's "manservant" Stella and a medieval knight will lead tours explaining the living history of the Cathedral which includes their burial sites.
Other visitors have a tour of the graveyard, where Christians have been buried for hundreds of years.
The day will finish up with an organ concert playing Halloween music.
"Halloween, I think, is a wonderful time to welcome families in here," said Mr Woods, "to hopefully to help them explore the nooks and crannies, the highways and byways of the building."
The festivities start at 10.00 am with guided tours of the Cathedral from 11.00am. The organ concert begins at 4.00pm. A family ticket, which includes two adults and children, is €15.00 for the day.