The story behind Mayo's hugely popular Halloween attraction

Horror in the Barracks has done from strength to strength and it's back this weekend

Dr. Richard Martin

I RECENTLY met Noel Tuffy and Flor O'Donoghue in the MACE opposite Roadstone in Castlebar.

The Horror at the Barracks is nearly upon us. It’s an annual institution now. Every Halloween, thousands from all over the county and province converge on the town to pay for a good fright at the barracks.

We got our teas and Kit Kats and sat at the window table. How did it all start?

Noel explained.

In 2018, he was at a Halloween Horror event in Ballina with his kids a few years back and someone said on the journey home in the car it’s a pity someone wouldn’t do it in Castlebar.

He was mulling this over in his head when he was walking through Castlebar with Flor O’Donoghue one Saturday morning and Flor pointed at the barracks.

What about having a look at it? They had both already walked Rehins Woods but it wasn’t a suitable venue. When they walked up the long avenue that July morning they knew they had THE venue. Noel made contact with Bobby Feeney, and the rest is history.

Mayo County Council owns the Barracks and they got amazing support from them. David Mellett, Joe Mangan and Dwayne Jordan have been very supportive, and they have given great guidance and help over the years. They are a huge link in the success of Horror in the Barracks.

When they were given permission to use the space, they contacted James Murray from Murray Ambulance. They needed actors.

James Murray is involved in the panto and he met them at the barracks with Antoinette Starken. She has become a vital part of the Horror team.

Flor described her as the ’creative director’.

Noel then got in touch with Michael McDonald. He manages the ‘Chainsaw Massacre’ and is a great help to everybody else involved. Fiona Campbell does the clowns, a much loved show.

Damien McLoughlin will be doing ‘The Cabin in the Woods’ this year.

In all previous events Damien did ‘The Butchers’, a frightening experience for all who went through it.

The Cabin in the Woods will be equally scary.

Marcella Tuffy will take charge in another room in the barracks. She will be provided with volunteers from Ballyheane Football Club.

Her speciality is scary nuns. Joe Behan’s act will always be very creative and terrifying. Claire Murphy’s act is usually a blend of mayhem and scary. They are given the autonomy to create as scary a room as they want!

The first Horror was held that October and roughly 2,500 people passed through the gates of barracks. When it comes to pulling off successful events, there’s no-one to touch the Ballyheane crew.

Why is the Horror at the Barracks so successful? Flor explained. People want to be scared and safe at the same time.

They don’t want to be traumatised. Horror at the Barracks fills that need. The other factor is the volunteers who make the event happen.

Maria Dillon manages the HIB facebook page. She is instantly onto anything that will help promote the shows.

Walter Tuffy manages the finances and promotes the event through interviews with radio stations organised for him by Mick Baynes.

Valerie Joyce and Sarina Meldrum of Foroige give great help decorating tunnels and providing some of the videos that are made for the shows.

Flor told me there are 26 volunteers in the Whatsapp group. Both were reluctant to say they were the ’leadership’.

Noel kept shaking his head saying there’s no bosses: “You see we’re all equal. There’s no real bosses. That’s why I don’t want to leave anyone out. I’d be afraid to leave anyone out.”

Flor said that there is tremendous camaraderie in the group. I could feel the pride and emotion in his voice as he said it.

Flor explained how they operate. There are only two directives for the volunteers. You must respect everybody and you can’t touch anybody. After that they run their own show. Volunteers are then assigned rooms in the barracks.

What I found interesting from listening to them is how they delegate and empower people.

Noel and Flor leave well alone and let them at it. No micromanagement.

They know and trust that they will do the job. They have created an ecosystem thats productive and harmonious.

No ego at the top. No ego at the bottom. They should give a leadership course in the Harvard Business School.

They both spoke of Joe McHale fondly. What does Joe do I asked? Anything, said Noel.

He just pitches in and helps and asks for nothing in return.

What happens the money earned? It’s simple.

Every year when the event is over a certain sum is kept in provision for the following year’s event.

Then the groups that volunteer all receive a dividend. Students from St. Gerald’s, St. Joseph’s and Davitt College have volunteered.

The schools receive money then in recognition of their help. The money goes towards debs and other student events.

The sports clubs like Breaffy LGFA that volunteer also receive money. The money that’s brought into the town is kept in the town.

The great thing about the Horror at the Barracks from my perspective is how it has brought all the community together over the years.

Micheal Kilcoyne was a vital support at the start.

All the politicians are on the same page. They all contribute GMA funding.

Councillor Donna Sheridan is a member of the committee - she’s in charge of the tickets. Blackie Gavin manages the Springfield gate exit.

Everybody knows him so everything is pleasant at the exit.

He also brings volunteers from Castlebar Community Clean-Up Group to act as marshals.

Ger Deere finds things that are needed and solves problems. He brings in a load of volunteers from Castlebar Tidy Towns to marshal the events.

Cyril Burke and Al McDonnell are fully supportive too. They hope to get Harry Barrett involved too.

There is no petty political divisiveness. Castlebar Tidy Towns help with stewarding. The Order of Malta are on-site throughout the entire weekend.

There are two main charities on board this year.

Mayo Autism Camp and Down Syndrome Mayo. The idea is to raise funds for these charities but also promote them through radio and the press.

Last year the autistic children went through the Horror at the Barracks between 2 and 4 p.m. on the Sunday. The volunteers adjusted the lights and made it accessible for the kids passing through.

Every year the event is changing and growing. Noel Tuffy just doesn’t sit still. It’s not in his makeup.

Finally, also important to mention the four main sponsors: Murray Ambulance Service, Hayes Mechanical & Engineering, Chilled Out Couriers and Funster Playcentre.

(Dr. Richard Martin is a regular columnist with The Connaught Telegraph).