Back to where it all started: Tourism goes big on Halloween theme this year

Halloween is reputed to have originated at the Hill of Ward, traditionally known as Tlachgta, in Athboy. While the Celts who travelled to the USA and other countries around the world popularised Halloween and made it into one of the most popular festivals in the calendar, it started its traditions in pagan ritual which will be re-enacted in Athboy this Halloween. On 31st October, a traditional torchlight procession from Athboy will travel to the Hill of Ward at 7pm, where all who choose to participate in this will hear all about the old traditions and legends associated with the original Halloween. For those who prefer more modern games and scary fun that is today associated with Halloween, Meath Tourism members, along with support from Failte Ireland, is planning to pull out all the stops this year in its efforts to entertain visitors and residents alike. Pucas and Potions Children's Arts Day will be a day of free activity for families in Athboy and takes place on Sunday 25th October. This will be an exciting and spooky day where kids can make their own puca puppet, Halloween lantern, scary scabs and shiners. Highfield House in Trim has a nice cosy evening of story-telling and music in the parlour with an open turf fire and Irish music on 28th October. Pumpkin carving, festive crafts, recipes and Halloween party ideas from Deirdre Rogers will take place at her studio at Garlow Cross, Navan. Renowned artist and sculptor, Betty Newman Maguire, will help 'Get ready for Halloween' in her workshops, which are run in Tearman Studios, Carnaross, Kells, where she will carve crazy pumpkin lanterns, create a spooky totem pole lantern, and help with mask-making and creepy costumes. Anyone brave enough can visit Grove Gardens and Open Farm for its Halloween Spooktacular to face the eerie graveyard, tunnel of horrors and haunted woodland walk. Navan will be bustling with rhythm, melody and fun with entertainment from top-class musicians on the streets creating the Samhain Sounds Busking Festival from 24-26th October. In Kells, there will be a ceili mor organised by Kells Chamber of Commerce, a monster fancy dress party at Jack's Railway Bar, a Kells Spooky tour and a gourmet wine night at the Headfort Arms Hotel. At Newgrange, where Meath's oldest relatives rest, an illustration workshop with Andrew Whitson might bring Halloween to life. He will explore the stories of some of Ireland's most fearsome mythological characters through workshops. Causey Farm is offering a two-hour show of hillarious, spine-tingling happenings in eight venues around the farm when hauntings, potions, mournings and seasonal traditions will be the order of the evening. The Poe Show at the Solstice Arts Centre is a piece of gothic theatre which pays tribute to the master of macabre fiction while Trim Musical Society is putting on interactive Halloween stories each day called the Gorey Tales of Trim. Booking at the Trim Visitor Centre. Barm brack-making in Harvest Home Bakery, Trim, a Halloween Trick or Treat Day at the Station House Hotel in Kilmessan, a fancy dress disco at Dunboyne Castle Hotel, a murder mystery weekend at Knightsbrook Hotel, Trim, and a night of harvests, feasts and spiritual encounters at Dunsany Lodge in Kiltale are among other events taking place this month. Email Meath Tourism at info@meathtourism.ie, telephone (046) 909 7060 or visit www.meathtourism.ie for a free programme of events.