PICTURES | Spook-tacular atmosphere as 10,000 attend Halloween events in Longford

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An estimated 10,000 people attended Longford’s Dead of Night 2023 which took place over the entire bank holiday weekend. Events included family fun at Samhain Town, and the Fire and Shadows Procession and Spectacular Fire Finale.

Samhain Town took over Connolly Barracks with two days of spooky family activities including a Pumpkin Patch, Halloween Arts and Craft Tent, and a jump scare or two at the haunted house experience in the old army headquarters. The Big Top was packed out with entertainment, while the climbing wall and archery also kept kiddos busy. READ MORE BELOW PHOTO

On Halloween night, onlookers were enthralled by the Fire and Shadows Procession. Awe-inspiring creatures stalked the streets of Longford Town, led by fire dancers, the Bula Bula Samba Band and local school children with their Samhain lantern creations. The spectacle culminated with fierce and fiery storytelling at a Spectacular Fire Finale in Connolly Barracks.

Before the Procession, local businesses entertained the growing crowd. Torc Café hosted a Chocolate Workshop, Pig Market Lane offered food, music and stories, and the Ukrainian Craft Centre held a craft workshop. Wicked Windows Competition entrants created a spooky streetscape. In conjunction with Longford Local Enterprise Office, local businesses offered great night time event, including at Eddie Valentines, PV’s, Andy Byrnes and the Tallyho Bar.

The spookiness extended to the entire county with Halloween events including Féile na Samhna at Corlea and Keenagh, a Family Halloween Party in Lisryan, Ballinamuck Spooky Drive, and Monster Mayhem at County Longford Libraries.

Longford County Council Cllr Colm Murray said, “It is great to see so many local people and people from further afield choosing to celebrate Halloween in Longford Town. Our Dead of Night Festival was bigger and better than ever this year, going from a one day event to a celebration across the whole bank holiday weekend and Halloween night. I want to thank all organisers, volunteers, community groups, local businesses and everyone involved in making this event something for Longford to be proud of.”

Longford County Council Chief Executive Paddy Mahon added, “It is great to see the community and local businesses both support and take part in Longford’s Dead of Night celebrations. The festival has helped us all to celebrate a safer Halloween for all – a key goal for Longford County Council in organising this event.”

The Council extends thanks to all community volunteers, local businesses, and all attendees for their support for all events.

The Dead of Night Festival is a Night-Time Economy initiative that was brought to you in partnership with the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media and Fáilte Ireland.

The Fire and Shadows Procession is supported by Milestone Inventive and Spraoi Street Theatre. Dead of Night Festival 2023 also could not have taken place without the help of Knights and Conquests Heritage Centre in Granard, Mostrim Youth Players, Bea Masterson Legan Amateur Drama Group, Backstage Youth Theatre, Ballinamuck Foróige Juniors; Longford Volunteer Centre, the Ukrainian community in Longford, local artist and markers, An Garda Síochána and Civil Defence.