Ken Carraher Transforms Killiney Home into Halloween: Haunted Wonderland for Charity
Ken Carraher, a Dublin electrician, has turned his Killiney residence into a spine-chilling House of Horrors every Halloween, with the active involvement of both adults and children from the community, all in the name of charity.
For the past 22 years, Carraher has been adorning his home with an array of spooky decorations, including ghosts, ghouls, and monsters, to raise funds for Debra Ireland, a charity that supports individuals with epidermolysis bullosa (EB), a rare and painful skin condition known as butterfly skin.
Despite his dedication to creating a thrilling Halloween experience for visitors, Carraher himself admits to being quite the opposite of a horror enthusiast. He steers clear of scary movies and has a fear of the dark, even requiring multiple torches during nighttime walks in his own neighborhood. On occasion, he’s been startled by sounds in his own home, only to discover that they were emanating from props he’d forgotten to turn off.
However, the fright factor hasn’t deterred Carraher from continually expanding his Halloween spectacle, which now boasts a collection of thousands of props. He notes that what the public sees is only a fraction of his collection.
The transformation process begins well in advance, with preparations commencing on the second-to-last weekend in September. Carraher takes four to five weeks of annual leave to set up, operate, and dismantle the display, aided by a friend who dedicates two weeks of annual leave to assist.
This annual tradition receives overwhelmingly positive reactions from the local community. Neighbours actively contribute, providing bags of sweets to distribute to the visitors. Both adults and children from the area participate in the event, with teenagers assisting in the scare tactics, while adults ensure the smooth running of the operation and manage the sweet distribution.
Ken Carraher’s spooky endeavor has become a beloved community affair that not only ushers in the Halloween season with a spine-tingling spectacle but also raises crucial funds for Debra Ireland, supporting those affected by EB. The House of Horrors is open to the public on specific dates leading up to Halloween, creating an experience that is not only thrilling but also charitable.
Ken’s Halloween House of Horrors welcomes visitors on October 28th, 29th, and 30th from 4 pm to 8 pm, and on Halloween itself, it will be open from 4 pm to 9 pm.
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