Dublin: Ireland marked Halloween with colourful street celebrations, elaborate costumes, fireworks and festivals showcasing the country’s rich cultural heritage. While thousands gathered in Derry, Northern Ireland, for one of Europe’s largest Halloween celebrations, incidents involving burning vehicles, dangerous driving and attacks on emergency personnel raised concerns in parts of Dublin and surrounding areas.
Dublin Fire Brigade received 347 emergency calls by 8 p.m. on Saturday, October 31, of which 281 were related to Halloween. The figure had already exceeded the total of 320 calls recorded throughout Halloween last year, when 276 were linked to the celebrations. The latest figures cover calls received only up to 8 p.m.
Chief Fire Officer Greg O’Dwyer had earlier warned that the brigade was expecting hundreds of emergency calls. He also cautioned that dry weather conditions could allow fires to spread rapidly.
Additional personnel were deployed in the brigade’s control room to manage the increased demand. Firefighters were instructed to prioritise incidents involving fires close to residential properties, power lines and locations where toxic smoke could pose a danger to the public.
Burning vehicles and dangerous driving raise concerns
Images circulating on social media showed cars on fire and vehicles being driven dangerously, reportedly resulting in collisions in Cherry Orchard, near Ballyfermot in Dublin. The footage showed residential streets littered with debris and fireworks, with fires spreading across parts of the area.
The concerns followed an incident in County Kildare on Friday night, when a firefighter was injured after a fire engine came under attack from stone-throwing. A window of the vehicle was broken, forcing the fire engine to be taken out of service for repairs.
Dublin Fire Brigade condemned attacks on emergency personnel, warning that violence against firefighters responding to incidents could compromise the safety of the wider community.
Firefighters also intervened in an incident at Dolphins Barn in Dublin on Friday, when a car was driven into a bonfire. Their quick response prevented the fire from spreading to nearby buildings.
Councils organise family-friendly Halloween celebrations
Despite the safety concerns, local authorities across Dublin organised a range of events designed to provide families and children with safe opportunities to celebrate Halloween.
Fingal County Council hosted its Festival of Fire events at Swords Town Park, Bremore Castle in Balbriggan and Millennium Park in Blanchardstown. The programmes included live music, children’s discos and fireworks, with entertainment scheduled to begin at 6.30 p.m. and fireworks displays planned for 7.30 p.m.
Dublin City Council’s celebrations in Ballyfermot and Cherry Orchard featured a zombie run, carnival activities, children’s entertainment and fireworks.
The programme also included a dedicated event for children with additional needs, along with a special sensory hour designed to reduce noise and crowding and make the celebrations more accessible.
Derry attracts thousands for Europe’s major Halloween festival
Meanwhile, Derry in Northern Ireland transformed into a major Halloween destination, attracting thousands of visitors to its annual parade and fireworks celebrations.
Now in its 40th year, the festival has grown from a small local event launched in 1986 into what organisers describe as Europe’s largest Halloween celebration. Visitors travelled from across the world to experience the festivities.
Mayor Grace Nélis highlighted the festival’s growth and its importance to the city. The main attractions included a spectacular fireworks display and a colourful street parade along the River Foyle.
Púca Festival celebrates Halloween’s ancient Irish roots
In County Meath, the Púca Festival in Trim and Athboy offered visitors an opportunity to explore the ancient folklore and traditions associated with Halloween.
The festival takes its name from the púca, a supernatural figure in Irish folklore believed to have the ability to change shape. Its programme featured music, processions, artistic performances, fire dancing and traditional bonfires.
Running from October 29 to November 1, the celebrations included folklore performances, a Púca procession and the traditional Samhain bonfire. Organisers sought to create an experience connecting visitors with nature, ancestral traditions and Ireland’s ancient cultural beliefs.
Ireland promotes its heritage as the home of Halloween
Ireland is increasingly presenting Halloween as an important part of its cultural heritage and tourism offering, drawing on its links to the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain.
This year’s ‘Ireland, Home of Halloween’ initiative included celebrations and events across Fingal, Galway, Kerry, Kilkenny, Limerick, Longford, Westmeath and Meath. The Púca Festival and Derry Halloween were among the principal attractions.
The initiative aims to highlight Ireland’s historical connection to Halloween while supporting local tourism and community celebrations.
Fire brigade warns of dangerous fireworks
Alongside the celebrations, authorities renewed warnings about the dangers posed by illegal and unregulated fireworks.
Greg O’Dwyer revealed that firefighters had attended a serious fireworks-related accident in the week before Halloween, in which a man lost an arm.
He warned that fireworks obtained through unregulated online sources and social media could explode unexpectedly, causing life-changing injuries.
Authorities urged families to attend organised public events rather than use illegal fireworks. They also appealed to the public to avoid obstructing emergency services and allow firefighters and other rescue personnel to carry out their duties safely.
While Halloween remains one of Ireland’s most popular cultural celebrations, emergency services stressed that public cooperation and responsible behaviour are essential to ensuring that the festivities remain safe for everyone.
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