Limerick’s Halloween Tradition Returns with a Spectacular Parade and Spooky Events
The Samhain Limerick Halloween festival returns to Limerick City for its seventh anniversary on October 24. The festival runs over three days until October 26. This year’s celebrations includes many events, workshops, and classic scary folklore for all ages.
Lumen Street Theatre: ‘Fire and Shadows’ Parade
Samhain’s biggest event is the Lumen Street Theatre ‘Fire and Shadows’ Parade on October 26 at 7:30 pm. The parade celebrates the Irish origins of Halloween, where the worlds of the living and dead will mingle on the streets of Limerick City.
The parade begins at the Potato market, onto Nicholas Street and into the city.
Besides the parade, many other events will take place over the three days. Halloween folktales about supernatural beings in Irish mythology, Halloween film competitions, live music and much more are planned.
Some of the main events during the three-day festival are:
October 24: Folktales with Eddie Lenihan (ages 9+) |
Location: 16 Roches Street at Lumen Headquarters Time: 5:00 pm Admission: €10 Eddie Lenihan is an author, storyteller, lecturer and broadcaster. He entertains visitors with tales of the supernatural in Irish mythology and folklore. |
October 26: Eddie Lenihan’s Tall Tales at Treaty City Brewery (over 18’s) |
Location: Treaty City Brewery, Nicholas St. Time: 7:30 pm Admission: €20 Eddie Lenihan leads a storytelling session in the Treaty City Brewery. Enjoy a pint while Eddie tells stories of terror that are not for the fainthearted. |
25 October: Death Café |
Location: Jack Mondays Café Thomondgate Time: 7:15 pm Admission: Free At the Death Cafe, people get together to eat cake, drink tea and discuss death. The goal is to increase awareness of death and to help people make the most of their lives. It is a safe space for those who wish to converse and celebrate death. |
October 25: Big Shots Halloween Screams |
Location: Record Room, The Commercial Catherine St. Time: 8:00 pm Admission: €10 (€8 for students) Big Shots presents their inaugural Hallowe’en Screams Film Competition. The competition gives local filmmakers a chance to screen their work. The films are based on a given theme, a line of dialogue and a prop. |
October 26: ICO Schools and ICO Youth |
Location: St. Mary’s Cathedral Time: 4:00 pm Admission: €5 The ‘ICO Schools’ is a music education programme delivered by the Irish Chamber Orchestra. The ICO School’s orchestras work together with ICO Youth orchestra to perform in Samhain. The spooky spectacle will showcase popular and classical music. Do not forget to dress up for this special occasion. |
More information about the events and the programme is available here: SamhainLimericksHalloweenFestival