There is something special about Ireland’s Ancient East at Halloween

Ireland’s Ancient East harbours 5,000 years of history, weaved together through the stories, both real and imagined of its people – folk tales, legends, myth and recorded fact ingrained in the very fabric of the ruined monastic sites, of the peaty expanses of bog, the megalithic tombs and monuments, of Ireland’s most historic region.

Halloween is a global event now. From China to South America, dressing up in ghoulish costumes and celebrating the darker side of life is increasingly a more familiar activity at the end of October.

However, trace the festival back to its roots and you will be brought to Ireland’s Ancient East. It is here that the ancient festival of Samhain was celebrated first in Celtic Ireland over 2,000 years ago. This Halloween as millions of children all over the world dress up to go door to door trick-or-treating, it’s worth remembering that they are carrying on a tradition that started in Ireland’s Ancient East a long, long time ago.

In Celtic Ireland over 2,000 years ago, 31st of October, the feast of Samhain represented the division of the year into the darker half (winter) and the lighter half (summer) and was seen as the beginning of the new year, equivalent to New Year’s Eve.. At Samhain the boundary between this world and the other world was at its thinnest and thus spirits and demons could easily pass between the two.

A family’s ancestors were honoured and invited home while evil spirits were warded off. People wore costumes to appear like the wandering spirits and therefore remain free from any harm. This is where the tradition of dressing up came from.
At this point as the sun travelled into the underworld, the forces of the underworld were in the ascendency. The Lord of the Underworld, Donn in Celtic mythology, no longer under control of the sun god had the power to walk among us and with him walked all manner of demons, spirits, faeries and dwellers of the underworld.

Bonfires played a large part of the festivities and the lighting of huge fires was supposed to symbolise the human assistance to the waning sun as it past lower in the sky. Fire acted as the great counterpoint to the natural cycles and symbolised man’s power on this earth to control his own destiny in the face of nature’s chaos. The bones from slaughtered livestock were tossed into the flames and household fires were extinguished and lit again from the bonfires.

As Halloween coincided with the feast of the Harvest, great amounts of food were prepared. Not just for the living, but also for the dead. The food for the dead was given to the poor – practised today in the tradition of going trick-or-treating.
Christianity adopted the feast of Samhain as All Saints (All Hallows) on November 1st, followed by All Souls on November 2nd, however, the customs of Samhain endured. In the nineteenth century, the Irish emigrated to America in huge number to escape the Potato Famine they brought those customs with them.

The American Halloween tradition of carving a pumpkin comes from the Irish practice of carving devilish faces in turnips and hanging them aloft as the Celts had done with the heads of their enemies in times of war.

Two hills in the Boyne Valley are associated with the festival of Samhain, Tlachtga (Hill of Ward) and the Hill of Tara. Tlachgta was the scene of the Great Festival of Fires during Samhain and the Hill of Tara some 12 miles away would wait until the fires had been lit at Tlachgta before lighting their own fires. The fires were a reassurance to the farmers of the Boyne Valley that the darkness of the winter would be overcome and the sun would return. All fires were to be extinguished and relit from the flames of the Tlachgta fire.

The Mound of the Hostages (Dumha na nGiall), an ancient passage tomb located on the Hill of Tara. in Co. Meath is also associated with the festival of Samhain and the burial chamber is aligned with the sunrise on October the 31st, when the sun’s rays illuminate the back of the chamber.

The Festival of Fire carries on the custom today. Experience ritual, music, song, storytelling and pageantry as the Story of Tlachtga, the Samhain Festival of Fire is enacted October 31st. Gather on the Fairgreen in Athboy, Co Meath from 7pm and join in honouring our ancestors and emerse yourself in the Samhain magic on Tlachga’s Hill where it all began over 3,000 years ago. Bring along a lighted torch.

Samhain, or Halloween as we now know it, is a magical time, both in ancient pre-Christian Ireland and in Ireland’s Ancient East of today. It was the end of the season of plenty and a time to come home to the hearth for the winter. Boundaries and bridges had a certain significance at this time of the year and it was a time for telling stories. The Celts told stories of their gods and heroes who battled for supremacy and today we tell stories of ghosts and mysterious happenings.

We delight in the spooky, mysterious and frightening themes of a time when the imagination is at its most fertile and we feel the closeness of the otherworld. It’s the perfect time to explore the 5,000 years of history, the ruined castles and great houses, all with their unique tales to share. A time to celebrate our history, together with our families and to cast the mind back to a time long ago.

On the banks of the wide and rushing dark waters of the river Nore, Kilkenny, the medieval capital of Ireland with its cobbled streets, imposing castle, ruined city walls and eerie atmosphere is a perfect place for a haunting ghost tour.
One of Ireland’s most dynamic and happening cities is also steeped in history and tale of the paranormal. A walking Ghost Tour of the city is a brilliant way to discover both the old and the new in a way the whole family will love.
Kilkenny locals are fiercely proud of their city and their passion comes through when walking the famous butterslips. They’re also famed storytellers and use ghost stories that are rooted in historical fact, as a way to bring the rich history of Kilkenny to life.
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Known as one of Ireland’s most haunted castles Kinnitty Castle was built in 1209. Originally a home to druids and bards the castle was burned to the ground by Republicans in 1922 and rebuilt to its current state in 1928. Today it operates as a hotel. The high cross and Abbey wall of the original structure remain and there are many rooms believed to be haunted. The Geraldine and Elizabeth rooms routinely leave visitors spooked but the castle’s most famous ghost is the Monk of Kinnitty, Hugh. The mostly benign spirit has been spotted by both staff and visitors and communicates with one particular member of staff and sometimes predicts future events. Click herefor more.

The daughter of the 3rd Earl of Charleville, Harriet tragically died aged eight in 1861 after sliding down the main balustrade and losing her grip, crashing to the stone floor. Her ghost is still reportedly seen and felt on the stairs, and at night the screams, laughter and singing of a young girl can be heard. The 1st Earl of Charleville has also remained to protect his home, his spirit has been seen walking the tower. Visitors have also seen inexplicable balls of light darting throughout the castle. The visitor experience at Charleville is open daily from 1-5pm with tours lasting 45mins-1hour. Click herefor more.

With the reputation as Ireland’s most haunted house Leap Castle is said to be occupied by many ghosts and spectres. The most terrifying is a small hunched figure or creature that is accompanied by the stench of rotting flesh when he appears. The O'Carrolls, princes of Ely, built it as their main stronghold in 1250 A.D. It was erected on a most commanding site facing the Great Pass through the Slieve Bloom Mountains to the province of Munster. It has a massive tower and walls nine feet thick. Gory murders are said to have taken place there - notably at a window high up in the tower.

Ghosts that have been seen include monks in the Priests’ House and a burly man seen pushing a barrel up a flight of stairs only for it to fall, and in the Murder Hole Room a cold hand has grasped the wrist of a resident, only for the room to fall still, a groaning heard and the sound of a body falling to the floor.

A woman known as The Red Lady has been seen prowling the halls, dressed in scarlet and brandishing a knife with a look of pure hatred upon her face. An 11-year-old girl named Emily fell from the battlements in the 1600s and her fall can be witnessed time and again, although she disappears before she hits the ground. Viewing is by appointment only.