Gilberts Orchards- Pick Your Own Apples
Gilberts Orchard will be running a Pick Your Own season! Every Friday, Saturday and Sunday running every weekend in September and October, people will be able to ramble through their orchard trails to pick their own scrumptious apples straight from the trees. They will have lots to see and do for all the family to enjoy with a selection of food and beverages available.
Quinagh, Carlow
29th - 30th October
Bucket prices range from just €3.50 for a small bucket to €7 to a large bucket
The Pictures: Edward Scissorhands
Sometimes dreams & wishes you didn't know you had, come true. The Pictures are showing a Halloween screening of Edward Scissorhands in the Dublin Unitarian Church on Friday the 28th of October. Capacity is extremely limited and they are expecting a large demand for tickets, so don't sleep! Expect an 8K projector, really big screen and an amazing setting for this enduring all-time classic.
Dublin Unitarian Church, 112 St Stephen's Green West
28th October
From €8
Gaelcon Unlocked
Gaming gets a new home for the weekend as Gaelcon Unlocked comes to the Ballsbridge Hotel. If you’re a deft hand at dealing a stack of cards, or you’re famed for always passing Go and never, ever ending up in jail in Monopoly, this could be the perfect place to take yourself and your indomitable, competitive spirit. Puzzles, war games, role-playing games…the list goes on. If you’re the person who loves a parlour game or reading the box-fresh rules for a new board game, war game, card game or quiz, you have found your nirvana. Don’t get played, play the game instead. You’ll have enormous fun with fellow fun-loving gamers.
Ballsbridge Hotel, Dublin 4
28th 31st October
Free
The Comedy Crunch @ The Stag's Head
Dublin is a city brimming with good humour and infectious laughter, so where better to experience the wit that Ireland is famed for than at one of the city’s premier comedy nights - The Comedy Crunch - every Sunday, Monday and Tuesday at The Stag’s Head. Boasting the very best names in stand-up comedy thrice a week, audiences are guaranteed side-splitting laughs, acerbic wit, tear-stained cheeks, and a free ice cream to boot.
The Stag's Head, 1 Dame Court
30th Oct ober
Free
Watch Leinster Rugby v Connacht
Leinster Rugby takes on reigning champions Connacht in a battle of strength at the RDS in the Guinness Pro12. Leinster has so far performed strongly in this series, but faced with a dominating Connacht team, they'll be pushed to their limits. This is an opportunity to see some of Ireland's finest international rugby players go head-to-head on the pitch, and it's guaranteed that this test of endurance and both physical and mental strength, will be fierce. Join the crowd and be at the heart of the action at the RDS this Autumn.
29th October
Free on RTE
Kathy Prendergast
Kathy Prendergast is a sculptor, draughtsman, painter, and installation artist whose exciting work has been thrilling audiences for four decades. The London-based artist's work is largely concerned with the question of Ireland's past within larger themes such as colonisation. Maps have been threaded throughout her work, and the geography of both synthetic and organic structures have fascinated her. Kathy is also intrigued by the surreal, which makes staring closely at her work enchanting - luckily, you'll be able to get up close and personal with her art at this beautifully curated exhibition at the Kerlin Gallery, one of Dublin's finest intimate galleries.
Anne's Lane, South Anne Street, Dublin 2
From 29th October
Free
The Cauldron of Smithfield 2016
Ghosts, goblins, and ghouls are all invited to the most monstrous bash in town at Smithfield Square; The Cauldron of Smithfield kicks off just in time for Halloween with thrills, chills, and spills for souls of all ages. Back again for another nightmarishly entertaining fest, The Cauldron of Smithfield returns bigger and better with a screech and a howl, invoking the spirit of fun and frolic. Expect magicians, sword swallowers, a circus ring with fire dancers and a deadly bed of nails.
Smithfield Square, Dublin 7
25th - 31st October
Free
Shackleton Autumn School Festival
The 16th Shackleton Autumn School, the only Polar School in Ireland, was established to commemorate the explorer in the county of his birth. It provides a forum for discussion and debate on polar exploration and the presentation of artistic works relevant to Shackleton and his time. Events include a series of lecturers, film, exhibitions, drama, a bus tour and annual dinner. 2016s exhibition, 'By Endurance We Conquer: Shackleton and his Men' has received both public and critical praise featuring all the men of the expedition on display panels with additional information on touchscreens. The exhibition draws on original material and images from the Scott Polar Research Institute's collection and currently has objects from private collections on display.
Athy, Kildare
28th - 31st October
Free - various
Savour Kilkenny: Festival of Food 2016
Savour Kilkenny 2016 is the 10th anniversary of Savour Kilkenny Food Festival. Savour Kilkenny is a feast of a festival for all food lovers out there. Set against the backdrop of the beautiful medieval city of Kilkenny, in Ireland's South East, Savour brings together local and national top quality food produce, well known talented chefs, a mix of exciting, tasty food options in the markets, and plenty more for everybody to enjoy. Over the course of the festival, there will an extensive selection of both free and ticketed events.
The Parade and various venues, Kilkenny 28th - 31st October
Free- various
Rockfall Festival
This Festival (now in its 28th year) is Kilkenny’s longest running festival. The Music festival began in 1989 with six music venues around Kilkenny City and was run over three nights. In the intervening years the festival has grown both in terms of venues and in 2013 the festival was run over four nights and in 22 venues around the City and attracted approximately 10,000 people to the Festival’s gigs. This festival which runs over the October Bank Holiday and is jam-packed with exciting events and sure to offer something for all tastes and ages: with live music and street entertainment.
Killkenny City locations
28th - 31st October
Free-€10
Creative Ardagh Fright Fest
Ardagh School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
Family Event: Potions, Dark Arts, Forbidden Forest and lots more
All ages welcome. €5 per adult, €8 per child or €24 for family of 4 (1 adult and 3 children or 2 adults and 2 children) Booking essential.
Ardagh, Co. Longford
28th - 31st October
From €5
Jackula: The Quest for Fun
Being a vampire sucks, but being Dracula's younger brother is driving Jackula batty. Join Jackula on a spooktacular quest to step out of his older brother's shadow and become the world’s most magical vampire. Laugh as Jackula makes his pet ghost dance. Gasp as Jackula balances five glasses of water on his face. Smile as children help him perform his fun magic tricks.
Solstice Arts Centre, Railway Street, Navan, Co. Meath
29th October
€7
Halloween at Wells House and Garden
Wells House and Gardens will welcome the return of the acclaimed "Dare to Scare" Halloween tour. Step back in time and learn some of the secrets and forgotten stories hidden from the history of Wells!
Gorey, Wexford 24-31st Oct
€8 entry per car
Samhain Trad & Funk Festival
On Sunday October 30th Lukers of Shannonbridge are hosting a jam pack day of Trad and Funk music. Moxie are headlining this event and are one band not to be missed. "MOXIE is the music of a new era, where fluidity, cross-pollination, and innovation are the future and salvation of Irish music."- Irish Examiner 2016 Other bands and DJS on the night include The Maguire Band, Jig Jam, DJ Ian Duffy and Dylan McCrumlish. This is promised to be a night to remember so make sure you get yourself to Lukers of Shannonbridge on Sunday October 30th.
Various Free
Galway Connemara Sea Week
Conamara Sea Week, now in its 32nd year, is a multi-disciplinary festival, celebrating the wonderful marine heritage of Conamara. Highlights include music workshops, art exhibitions, concerts, talks, walks, children's activities, sports events, lots of great music and buckets of fun for all the family.
Letterkenny, Galway
23rd -31st October
from €5
Macnas
By theatrically and visually transforming landscapes, sites and venues the audience are invited into a world where stories emerge and journeys begin. A Macnas show ignites, excites and invites the unpredictable creating exhilarating experiences and unlikely encounters for audiences, participants and ourselves
Various Free
Galway
Mayo Dark Sky Festival
This remote corner of Ireland with its wild Atlantic coastline, pristine dark skies, majestic mountains and meandering rivers has an unparalleled splendour and natural beauty all its own. The festival hope you will join them in the idyllic coastal town of Newport from October 28th-30th 2016 for the Mayo Dark Sky Festival and share your passion for the night sky and astronomy during this fun weekend. Guest speakers will include broadcaster and journalist Leo Enright, as well as renowned astronomers, astrophysicists and photographers.
Newport
28th -30th October
FREE
Battle of the Bands Achill
Usual stuff, each band performs 3 songs one of which must be from a musical (interpretation of what is a musical, loose).
Keel, Achill Island
29th October
Free
Halloween in Horkans Castlebar
Horkans are delighted to announce a special Halloween Weekend of tricks and treats in their award winning Turlough Store Castlebar on Saturday 29th October and Sunday 30th October. All weekend there will be face painting, a colouring competition, meet the mini beasts and you have got the nerve you can try out the wall of horrors. On Sunday 30th October there will be a fancy dress competition with prizes for the best dressed boy costume, best dressed girl costume and best pet costume. There will also be treats for everyone all weekend so get dressed up and join us on Saturday 29th October and Sunday 30th October for some great fun activities.
Horkans Turlough Castlebar
29th - 30th October
FREE
Enniscrone Surf and Turf
The Enniscrone Surf and Turf run is back again for 2016 – and promises to be bigger and better than ever. The event, now in its third year, has thrilled hundreds of participants in recent years as competitors compete over the 5-kilometre route for the right to take home the John P Hannon Memorial Cup.
Enniscrone
29th October
€10 youth, free to spectate
Fiddler of Dooney Competition
Sligo Town Branch of CCÉ in association with Sligo Live Festival will host Fiddler of Dooney Competition over the October Bank Holiday weekend (26th - 31st), 2016. The standard of competition is always excellent and the 2015 event proved an overwhelming success. So it's time to get those applications in for 2016 and your name could be added to the impressive list of of winners. Apply Now! The competition, inaugurated in 1965, is one of the oldest and most prestigious instrumental competitions in the tradition and is inspired by the W B Yeats poem, of the same name.
Methodist Church, Wine Street, Sligo
26th - 31st October
€10 child to enter / free to spectate
Sligo Live
Sligo Live celebrates folk, roots, and indie music. Over the years it has carved out a niche as a relaxed, intimate and enjoyable music festival, attracting visitors from all over Ireland and abroad.
Sligo Town
26th - 31st October
From €5
The Burren Food Fayre Weekend
The Burren Food Fayre Weekend will hold its 5th annual food themed event in Lisdoonvarna on the October bank holiday weekend – 29th and 30th October 2016. As part of the Winterage Festival, the Food Fayre showcases the fabulous Burren produce. This festival weekend stretches over 2 days with Food Workshops on the Saturday at the Spa Wells, Lisdoonvarna from 2.00 – 5.00 pm and a free entry Food Fayre on Sunday at the Pavilion, Lisdoonvarna from 12.00 – 5.00 pm. The event is organised by the Burren Ecotourism Network (B.E.N.) and will have a focus on the food produce offered by the Food Trail members. On both days there will be a strong emphasis on local produce, promoting the delicious flavours of the Burren.
Lisdoonvarna, Co. Clare
29th - 30th October
Free entry
Spooky Halloween at Moher Hill Open Farm
This is the time of year when the witches and ghouls descend on Moher Hill Farm! With 'Padini' The Great Magician, traditional Halloween fun and games and face-painting, Halloween at the farm is sure to scare the bravest. You can also feed the animals such as llama, deer, ostrich, emu, alpaca, bounce on the bouncing castle, dive into the ball pool, whizz around the go kart track.
Moher Hill Open Farm, Cliffs of Moher Road, Liscannor
30th October
€8
Willie Keane Memorial Weekend
First held in 2000, the Willie Keane Memorial Weekend is a festival of traditional music, song and dance to commemorate the life and talents of Willie Keane, an exceptional set and sean nos dancer, who came to prominence with the Mullagh Set, toured America with Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann, and who taught at the Willie Clancy Summer School. It incorporates events for both adults and children including music and singing sessions, where everyone is welcome to participate; a set dancing ceili for adults, traditional dancing for children and young teens, a concert, a commemorative mass, and storytelling for children.
Doonbeg, Clare
28th - 31st October
Free - €10
Kinsale Fringe Jazz Festival
An offshoot of the Cork Jazz Festival this event has a slightly less frenetic pace than the larger festival but there is still plenty on offer for Jazz lovers. With events running every day from lunchtime to late night at some 20 venues in the town, you may well find there is no need to ever leave Kinsale and head to Cork.
Kinsale 28th - 31st October
Guinness Cork Jazz Festival
The Guinness Cork Jazz Festival is Ireland's flagship international Jazz Festival, presenting the best of Irish and overseas musicians in an eclectic programme of jazz and jazz-related music in over 70 venues in the historic city of Cork. Over 90% of the music is free of charge and the four day event includes street bands, workshops, master classes and a Jazz Parade.
Cork City locations
28th - 31st October
Free
Halloween Howl Kenmare
Expect the unexpected at Kenmare's Halloween Howl. Go wild and be prepared to be entertained and alarmed by ghostly things that go bump in the night in the scariest of places in Ireland for Halloween in this week-long festival.
Kenamare, Kerry
26th October - 5th November
From €3
Annascaul Walking Festival
The annual Annascaul walking festival takes place this October Bank holiday weekend, 28th - 31st.
Annascaul, Kerry
From Free
Spleodar Halloween Arts Festival
Spleodar is a family-focused arts festival over the Halloween mid-term break. Presenting a series of exhibitions, performances, concerts and a range of participative workshops across art forms. Spleodar (meaning 'outburst of energy') presents public spectacle, arts and cultural events that aim to bring light and noise to the streets and venues in the town, along with a spectacular closing firework display. The festival's quality programming is aimed at those from early years to young adults.
Nenagh Arts Centre, Banba Square. Nenagh, Tipperary
28th - 31st October
Free- various
Nire Valley Drop
The Nire Valley Drop is a cross country mountain biking sportive over a tough course in and around the lower slopes of the Comeragh Mountains in the Nire Valley that challenges both rider and machine. There are few places where you encounter nature in the raw. There are even fewer places where you and your bike can challenge nature knowing if you don't tame nature, it will tame you!
Ballymacarbry Co. Waterford
30th October
Free to spectate
Halloween Fest
Halloween Fest once again takes over Inns Market during the scariest time of year with ghoulish goodies and terrifying treats making up the menu supplied by local, seasonal and artisan producers. Plenty of familiar faces like Cherryvalley Farm, Go Yeast, Hogplate, Buchanan’s Farm Shop, Indie Fude and Mikes Fancy Cheese will help make up the numbers, while a few new faces are expected to make an appearance. Not forgetting the street food offer from Hogplate and Pizza Vantastica, which can be enjoyed at the market or taken home. A total of 20+ stalls regularly transform The Inns into a foodie’s haven on the last Saturday of every month and this month is to be no different, with one exception.
75 Saintfield Road, Belfast
29th October
Free
Ballymoney Halloween Fireworks
Dust off your broomstick and dress up your little monsters for the fancy dress competition. They will love the creepy characters and be mesmerized by the spinning fire dancers in the Fire Poi Show. Get ready for a night of magical entertainment with a live outdoor concert from local band Bone Idol and music by CJ Entertainments. Then be amazed by the explosive fireworks display which takes place at 20:15.
Joey Dunlop Leisure Centre, 33 Garryduff Road, Ballymoney
28th October
Free
Armagh Little Spooks
Enjoy some spook-tacular family Halloween fun at the Navan Centre, Armagh. Are you brave enough to pass through the Bone Taker’s garden and see their Palace of Bones? Watch out for the Wicked Witch and don’t be tricked into joining Rapunzel in her tower. Test your Halloween knowledge and follow our Spooky Riddle Trail if you dare. Don’t forget to come in fancy dress – prizes in every show. Suitable for under 11 years old.
Navan Centre & Fort, 81 Killylea Road, Armagh
28th - 31st October
£6
Coleraine Speciality Food & Craft Halloween Market
Come along and start your Halloween celebrations at the first Causeway Speciality Food & Craft Halloween Market. This outdoor market hosts 40 stalls positioned around Coleraine Town Hall in the pedestrian precinct area of the town. The delicious foods on offer along with varied, locally made crafts make it a unique shopping experience.
The Diamond, Coleraine
29th October
Free
Dunfanaghy Halloween Festival Fireworks
Dunfanaghy Halloween Festival - SATURDAY 29TH OCTOBER, 2016.
Torchlight Parade will start at 7.30 pm sharp from the Ozanam Centre and finish on the green opposite Arnold's Hotel.
TORCHES (4 euro) and GLOW NECKLACES (2 euro) will be available for purchase prior to the parade from 7.15pm at the Ozanam Centre.
All proceeds go to Dunfanaghy Festival Group towards cost of Fireworks etc.
Firework Display will commence at 8.30 pm sharp weather permitting.
Dunfanaghy, Co Donegal
29th October
Free
Banbridge Fireworks Celebrations
There will be a host of frightful fancy dress, eerie entertainment and great offers, all finished off with an amazing fireworks display to help start the October half term with a bang. Admission is free. Dress up and join in the festivities.
There will be fang-tastic entertainment over the weekend for all the family, so make this a half term to remember.
Newry Road, Banbridge
28th Oct ober
Free
Picasso Blue Collection
Belleek Pottery and ArtsCare have teamed up to present visitors with a delightful collection of handcrafted pieces from the Here and Now in Full Bloom Project. Inspired by Picasso, The Picasso Blue Collection has been created by a group of 60 years +, (from across five Health and Social Care Trusts in Northern Ireland) many of whom live with challenging conditions such as Dementia, Parkinson’s Disease and Respiratory conditions. The collection is a series of 8 handcrafted pieces inspired by Picasso’s Blue period and will be on display at Belleek Pottery Visitor Centre from 29th October 2016, during opening hours.
3 Main Street, Belleek, County Fermanagh
From 29th October
Free
Clones Film Festival
4 days of film - features, shorts, documentaries, kids' movies & 48hr Short Film Challenge of course. Festival club nightly. Clones, Monaghan
27th - 30th October
Various free
Tyrone Glass Bones
McKenna Gallery presents ‘Glass Bones’ a solo exhibition of new paintings by Trina Hobson. Hobson translates her surroundings, collected images and memories into abstracted, expressive paintings. Her loose and direct use of oil paint is worked in layers onto the surface adding texture and depth, evocative of time and memory.
McKenna Gallery, 31 Castle Street, Omagh
Until 5th November
Free