Samhain abhainn makes a frightful return this halloween
QUICKLY becoming one of the west’s scariest festivals, Samhain Abhainn returns to Ballina this Halloween for yet another season of scares.
The festival - which last year saw an unprecedented turnout for its main event, the Fanta Scary Woods Walk - is sure to make a frighteningly big impression again this year.
The unique Irish historical context of Halloween will be a big feature of the festival this year. First celebrated as a pagan festival back in 100AD, the Celts marked the season of Halloween or ‘Samhain’, an old Irish word meaning the ‘end of summer’. Fast-forward 2,000 years and Ballina is building on Irish history in celebrating ‘Samhain Abhainn’ - a summer's end festival on the banks of the River Moy.
Haunting the streets of Ballina from October 25 to 31, Samhain Abhainn will celebrate all things ghoulish with a cauldron of unique, hair-raising events.
On Sunday and Monday, October 25 and 26, experience the mystical Belleek Forest by day as it gears up for the Fanta Scary Woods Walk. Venture into the wicked woodland and witness the eerie sights and screeching sounds of the haunted forest (suitable for younger children).
On Tuesday and Wednesday, October 27 and 28, conjure up your own fearsome Halloween costume as Ballina Costume Company hosts a costume workshop for children between the ages of five and 12 in the Ballina Stephenites complex (call 096-72154 for bookings).
The Fanta Scary Woods Walk - the jewel in the crown of this spellbinding festival - will transform Belleek Forest into a haunted woodland filled with ghosts and ghouls for three chilling nights of spooky walks from Wednesday to Friday, October 28 to 30. Those who dare enter will be led on a chilling expedition sure to quicken the pulse. Make sure to bring your flashlight because you don’t want to be left in the dark!
On Thursday and Friday, October 29 and 30, the Jackie Clarke Collection will be brewing toil and trouble with Spooky Scéals, where children under 12 will be invited to attend a series of creepy ghost story readings in the eerie surroundings of the museum (call 096-73508 for bookings).
On Halloween Day (Saturday, October 31), head to Ballina Arts Centre from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. for a spooky pumpkin carving workshop, suitable for all ages, where you will be given all you need to carve and conjure a ghostly pumpkin (call 087-2146434 for bookings). Afterwards, march on to Trick or Treat for Temple Street in Costa Coffee from 4 to 6 p.m. for face painting, arts and crafts, a mini disco and lots more fun.
This Halloween, Ballina will be transformed into a land of magic, mystery and myth, waiting for you, your family and friends to come and enjoy. In a celebration of all things spooky and scary, and heavily influenced by Irish traditions and customs, Samhain Abhainn looks set to be bigger and better this year and add to its reputation as one of the west of Ireland’s premier family festivals.
For more information about bookings, contact the Mayo North promotions office on (096) 70905 and for updates follow Mayo North on Facebook.