Tourism Ireland Pushes 'Home of Halloween' Campaign

Tourism Ireland is positioning the island as the “Home of Halloween,” leaning into its Samhain roots to promote immersive autumn tourism and a year‑round focus on folklore and spooky experiences. For 2025 the programme expands to seven new Halloween hubs — Fingal, Galway, Kerry, Kilkenny, Limerick, Longford and Westmeath — and highlights flagship events such as the Púca Festival and an enlarged Derry Halloween, now billed as Europe’s largest. Local projects are already showing impact: Wicklow Gaol reopened for a Halloween Spooktacular that drew hundreds, showcased the site’s heritage and boosted local tourism while it awaits new operators. The campaign’s cultural reach spans entertainment and media, from the creature‑heavy horror film Devour to a Halloween crafting leaderboard in the game Big Time running through December 1. Community Halloween activities also face challenges, including the theft of nine handmade signs for a Surrey children’s treasure hunt and instances of tradition‑linked injuries that have required emergency care, underscoring safety and stewardship concerns.