Halloween Traditions in Ireland

Halloween is almost upon us in Ireland. Why not visit Derry Halloween Festival and enjoy the best of music, fancy dress, fun and frolics Ireland has to offer during spooky season? If it is festivals, fancy dress, fireworks, storytelling, music, games and tasty pumpkin pies you want, then Ireland has it all.

Magic and Mystery

Halloween Traditions in Ireland Ireland is a land of magic and mystery celebrated at Halloween. With our old Irish history and rich cultural past, tales of strange and mystical events and apparitions are weaved into Irish storytelling during the Autumn and Winter months. Ireland has some special traditions that are observed every Halloween, some can be found in other parts of the world and others are unique to Ireland.

As in other countries, Ireland also celebrates Halloween with Trick or Treating, Halloween parties, telling ghost stories, decorating the house, eating toffee apples and fancy dress. Traditional Halloween games in Ireland include bobbing for apples.

Barmbrack Cake

Barn Brack Cake One of the main Halloween traditions in Ireland is The Barmbrack Cake. The traditional Halloween cake in Ireland is the barnbrack which is a fruit bread. Each member of the family gets a slice. Great interest is taken in the outcome as there is a rag, a coin and a ring in each cake. If you get the rag, then your financial future is doubtful. If you get the coin then you can look forward to a prosperous year. Getting the ring is a sure sign of impending romance or continued happiness!

Recipe for Barmbrack

B&B Accommodation

Halloween is a great time to visit Ireland with many special festivals and events around the country. Your B&B host or hostess will advise you of any local celebrations and perhaps tell you a tale or two of local ghosts and goblins! You may even get a guided tour of an old historic building or walk through a mysterious forest at dusk. Your bed and breakfast host will recommend the best local pubs and restaurants. Many Irish pubs have storytelling, music, Halloween themed parties and plenty of fancy dress costumes to keep you partying through Halloween night.