Cork City Gaol
This former prison is no stranger to supernatural shenanigans, with ghostly apparitions and the echo of otherworldly voices reported by staff and visitors. Its haunted history has also seen it play host to the World Ghost Convention.
This Halloween, it will run a family-friendly Black Cat Treasure hunt where visitors will have to find the witchy felines hidden around the gaol and mark them on their maps. Wanda Witch will also be on hand and visitors are encouraged to join in the fun by coming in costume.
Saturday, October 26th to Friday, November 1st: €11 per adult, €9 per concession, €7 per child and €34 per family (2 adults and up to 4 children). corkcitygaol.com
Spooky Tunnel, Waterford Greenway
The dimly-lit recesses and arched ceiling of the 400 metre-long brick lined Ballyvoyle Tunnel, constructed in the 1870s is the perfect setting for a spooky Samhain stroll. Waterford City and County Council will be going all out with this free Halloween installation which has proved hugely popular in previous years. The event will run over mid-term, check website for dates. visitwaterfordgreenway.com
Waterford Suir Valley Railway
Staying in the Déise, get on board a real-life ghost train at the Waterford Suir Valley Railway in Kilmeaden. Ireland’s longest narrow gauge railway, restored in a community heritage project, runs along 10km of the abandoned Waterford-Dungarvan line. The refurbished station and platform, built in 1878, will be transformed into a spooky spectacle, while the route along the banks of the River Suir and Waterford Greenway will be sprinkled with spine-tingling scenes. wsvrailway.ie
Ghost Bus, Dublin
Described as a haunted house on wheels, this distinctively decorated vehicle does exactly what it says on the tin. From St Audoen’s medieval church, where ghostly lepers roam, to the dastardly doings of the body-snatching surgeon Dr Clossey, the tour brings the dark side of Dublin to life, with professional actors serving as the storytellers. The Victorian theatre on the upper deck, decked out in blood-red velvet curtains, creates an authentic and immersive Halloween experience. Not suitable for those under the age of 14; though the Ghostbus Kids tour is for kids aged 7-14 and has been designed to be more fun than scary. ghostbus.ie
Kilkenny Haunted Dark Tours
Halloween is the perfect time to take this walking tour which delves into the often grisly history of this medieval city, where the winding streets and narrow laneways hide many dark secrets. Taking in the medieval mile and Kilkenny Castle, visitors will also find out more about the grislier events in the city’s history, including the plague, the penal laws, and the infamous witch trials. discoverireland.com
Púca Halloween Festival, Co Meath
What better place to find the true spirit of Halloween than the place where Samhain is said to have originated, in the Boyne Valley. The Púca Festival features four nights of celebration to mark the ancient Celtic feast. A highlight is the Púca Procession: The Gathering of the Spirits, which takes place in Trim and blends outdoor theatre, street performance and music in a celebration of Samhain lore and the descent of darkness as winter approaches. The Lighting Of The Samhain Fire takes place in the town of Athboy, an important hub of Halloween tradition, with the nearby prehistoric Hill of Ward (Tlachtga) an ancestral site of Samhain gatherings. pucafestival.com
Spike Island, Cork
Once the infamous site of a prison, known as ‘Ireland’s Hell’, this island in Cork Harbour has long been a magnet for those fascinated by the paranormal. This Halloween, visitors can explore the nooks and crannies of this historic fortress on the family-friendly Spookfest Trail, with plenty of tricks and treats in store. Grown-ups can avail of Spike Island After Dark, which takes visitors on a candlelit tour of the island’s eerie tunnels and abandoned cells, as guides share the darker chapters of the island’s harrowing history. spikeislandcork.ie
Rathcroghan, Co Roscommon
The Rathcroghan Visitor Centre is located in the medieval village of Tulsk, Co Roscommon and from here you can visit another site believed to be linked to the original festival of Samhain — Oweynagat (Cave of the Cats), which was described by early Christians as Ireland’s “gate to hell”. Myth and magic abound in this area — the cave was also said to be the home of the Morrigan, the goddess of battle and war, who featured in the Táin Bó Cuailnge and was able to transform into a crow or raven — what could be more spooky than that? rathcroghan.ie
Cork Ghost Tour
A hilarious slant on Cork’s horrible history is promised in this time-travelling and entertaining trip through the streets of the city in the company of storyteller extraordinaire Damian Punch. One for visitors and Corkonians alike — you may even get to see some ghosts up close. corkghosttour.ie
Leap Castle, Co Offaly
Described as the world’s most haunted castle, this former fortress has a grisly history befitting a residence which houses a bloody chapel and murder hole room. There have been ghostly encounters aplenty according to owner Sean Ryan, and you may see the Red Lady who wanders through the corridors brandishing a dagger, or Emily, a young girl who plummeted from the battlements. Open to visitors on request. leapcastle.net