Tuesday, October 21, 2014

Jeepers Creepers, We've Spooky Mid-Term Sleepers! The Best Halloween Fun Ireland Has To Offer

Double, Double, Toil & Trouble.......

I love Halloween especially since having little ones as I use them as an excuse to go overboard with the decorating & sweet buying/eating! While on our travels in the US we picked up lots of fantastic Halloween decorations in Wal-Mart for a few Dollars as they were so hard to get in Ireland a few years ago.

This year more than ever I’ve noticed more & more hotels & tourist boards taking advantage of the Halloween mid-term break, offering families great things to do & places to stay at great rates. I’ve compiled a list of 5 of the best; all are places we've been so I'll happily recommend. Some fun stops are guaranteed to scare you witless as they are adults only!!






Waterford & Suir Valley Railway is running a Spooky Express on Saturday 25th October. There will be 6 departures after dark taking a 30 minute journey through the haunted forest; you never know what you might catch a glimpse of!  Adults €12 Children under 16 €10



The Fitzwilton Hotel in Waterford City are doing a great Halloween offer of 2 nights B&B plus an evening meal for just €89pps & 2 children, under 12s stay free B&B.

While there you might like to take part in this year’s House of Horrors, a creepy labyrinth of scares and frights. Don't worry if you have little ones though as the matinee show is for all ages each day from 12-2pm. There will be no scares during this time slot and will be a mostly visual experience that would be perfect for younger children. Tickets are €7 each, though there are group/family rates available and all proceeds go to charity. You'll find more info here



Samhain Abhainn, Ballina’s Halloween Festival promises to be bigger & better this year. Running from 25th October – 1st November Frightfest of the West has lots of events running including a Scary Woods Walk in Belleek Woods on 28th, 29th & 30th October at 6:30pm for just €3pp.

“The Mayo Arts Squad will transform the woods into an interactive installation of fright & fun”. There are lots of other events taking place such as a mini monsters treasure hunt & a creepy Halloween fancy dress disco. All are priced €2-€3pp. Some of the money raised will be donated to Ballina Guide dogs & Mayo/Roscommon Hospice so it’s also for good causes!



Twin Trees Hotel in Ballina is offering a Spooktacular Halloween family break from €249. This price is based on a family of 4 for 2 nights B&B plus 1 dinner. Admission to the Spooky Cubs Club & the leisure centre is included in this price.  



Galway Abooo Halloween Festival: The Latin Quarter in Galway plays host to Ireland’s biggest Halloween festival this year. Oodles of FREE family fun taking place on 26th, 31st October & 1st November. Events include a monster dash, treasure hunt & Halloween disco not forgetting the amazing Macnas Parade which takes place in Sun 26th October at 4:45pm, it’s not to be missed as it’s sure to thrill & entertain young & old alike!



Flannery’s Hotel just 5 minutes drive outside Galway City is offering 1 night room only for 2 adults 2 children for just €110.

Enough about the children already now let’s move onto the Adults Only Halloween events that are sure to curl your toes with fright!



Loftus Hall on the Hook Peninsula in Wexford is said to be one of Ireland’s oldest & most haunted houses they are running adults only “Paranormal Presence @ Loftus Hall” tours, priced at €15pp but I really love the sound of the Halloween Horror Night – Dying to Dine on 1st November. For just €40pp you are treated to dinner in a cordoned off RIP area before your frighten the pants off you Paranormal Presence tour. Guests are asked to dress to scare & petrify! Are you brave enough to book? (Sue here: Yeah, no.)



Fort Conan Hotel in New Ross is recommended for your overnight by Loftus Hall & they have double/twin rooms from €90 per night for 2 adults B&B. That's scarily good. 



Huntington Castle & Gardens in Clonegal Co Carlow is advertised as being bigger & better than ever before with a brand new & updated candlelit ghost tour. Dating back to 1625, Huntington was originally built as a garrison housing soldiers for over 50 years before being turned into a family residence.

The castle is steeped in history & in the 1970’s the basement was converted into a temple to the Egyptian Goddess Isis. While they do offer family friendly tours later in the evenings, they are specifically for teenagers & adults only. 

I guess this is where the resident ghosts come out to get up to mischief & mayhem! Tours run from 25th – 31st October 4pm – 9:30pm Under 12’s €8.95 & Adults €10.95 book tickets through THIS LINK, if you dare. 



The Millrace Hotel in Bunclody is only a 10 minute drive from Huntington Castle and you can make a night of it for just €89 per night for 2 adults including full Irish breakfast, Wifi, parking & full use of the pool, sauna, Jacuzzi, steam room & gym. 

The bar looks like an ideal place to have a stiff drink to settle your nerves after a night at Huntington Castle!


So tell us, what are your plans for Halloween then? Do they involve packing up and heading off? Got any hints or tips for travel destinations? 

Or will it be turning off the lights and dodging neighbourhood childerbeasts, while binge eating mini packs of Haribo AGAIN? 






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