The Royal Canal Greenway is the place to be this upcoming Halloween with 16 Spooktacular events happening all along this 225 year old Royal Canal. The greenway, which is the longest in Ireland at 130km encompasses four counties, Kildare, Longford, Meath and Westmeath, has an abundance of stops with plenty of activities for all interests this Halloween including a haunted train, a spine-tingling medi-evil exhibition, a Halloween feast, and even a spooky science camp!
Here at Waterways Ireland, we have put together this handy list of events to make sure you avoid the horror of missing out this Halloween.
CHECK OUT KILDARE
Halloween Family Scarecation at the Glenroyal Hotel
Where: Glenroyal Hotel & Leisure Club, Maynooth
What: Treat you and your loved ones this Halloween to a break away at Glenroyal Hotel with a VIP children's package. The little ones can enjoy their very own check-in, dinner in the Shoda Pizzeria and a Pumpkin Carving competition in Lenny Lion Kids Club.
When: Available From October 22nd - November 1st
For Who: All the family!
Booking: Booking Essential
CHECK OUT LONGFORD
Halloween Workshops at Fiona Egan's Cookery School
Where: Fiona Egan Cookery School, Abbeyshrule, N39 XR65
What: Fiona Egan Cookery School in Abbeyshrule is hosting two Cloughan Farm Halloween workshops, one for autumn breads and preserves and a second for Halloween lunch
When: Available on Saturday, October 23rd & 30th
For Who: All the family!
Booking: Booking Essential
Halls of Horror
Where: St Mels College, Longford
What: St. Mel's College is an enchanted space, full of ghost stories, creaky hallways and century old myths.
Legend has it the halls of the old building became haunted in the early 1900s after its most famous resident, 'Spike', was apparently murdered. Not only that, but his remains were chopped up and stuffed behind the walls of his room. You'll hear Banshee tales and have the bejaysus frightened out of you with the random ghost and goblins scattered around the place, eager to get a fright or 3 out of you.
This is a once off, never to be repeated Halloween themed event where we turn the old hallways of the college building into a haunted nightmare
When: Available from Thursday, October 28th - 31st
For Who: Over 16s
Booking: Booking Essential
Cooneys Family Fancy Dress Party
Where: Cooneys Hotel, Ballymahon
What: Fancy dress party with spot prizes, music and plenty of spooky entertainment
When: Saturday, October 30th
For Who: All the Family
Booking: Booking not essential
Corlea Trackway, Samhain
Where: Corlea Trackway Visitors Centre, Kenagh
What: The Corlea Trackway Visitor Centre have a packed series of events both online and in person for Samhain including their annual turnip carving competition.
On October 23 the centre is hosting and online event at which attendees can discover the Irish links between crows and Halloween, and learn about the real animal behaviour behind the superstitions! Did you know that crows are one of the smartest groups of animals on the planet? Swoop into this fun family online talk to discover more about these brainiest of birds!
On October 26 the centre is hosting an online crafts event "The Crow Knows" during which kids aged 5 and up can learn how to make their very own wearable crow skull. Attendees will learn how they can make the craft using items commonly found around the home and materials from nature, and discover fun facts about these brainy birds and the way they live!
When: Available Now until Sunday, October 31st
For Who: All the family
Booking: Booking recommended. Email corlea@opw.ie for further information.
Halloween Fancy Dress and Music
Where: Foigha Bar & Lounge, Kenagh
What: A fun filled Halloween fancy dress and music event with Music by the One and Only and New to Foigha Last Minute, 3 piece band. Best dressed spot prizes up for grabs
When: Saturday, October 30th
For Who: Over 18s
Booking: Non essential
Halloween Oktoberfest
Where: Jolly Boys Pizza & Grill, Ballymahon
What: hosting a very special Halloween Oktoberfest with live music, pig on a spit, five breweries, one distillery plus lots more!
When: 30th October
For Who: Over 18s
Booking: Non-essential
CHECK OUT MEATH
Púca Halloween Festival 2021
Where: Co Meath and Co Louth
What: Púca festival will take place across County Meath and County Louth and, for the first time, Slane Castle is joining in the fun, alongside the festival hubs of Athboy, Trim and Drogheda, each steeped in Samhain legend and tradition.
Our friend 'Púca', the shape-shifting creature from Celtic folklore and a familiar character in Ireland's narrative of Halloween, will turn the rock n' roll surrounds of Slane Castle into a playground for the spirits this year.
When: Available from Saturday, October 23rd – 31st
For Who: All the family
Booking: Booking Essential
Bee Tricked and Bee Treated (Bee Wise Nature Trail)
Where: Bee Wise Nature Trail, Crerogue, Kilmessan, Co. Meath
What: This is a fully Outdoor (dress for the weather!), socially distanced event. Have a fun walk around Bee Wise Nature Trail where you'll visit different houses along the walk and meet some witches, ghosts, skeletons, etc. and receive some treats from their cauldrons.
When: Available from Sunday, October 24th - 31st
For Who: All the Family
Booking: Booking Essential
Medi-Evil at Trim Visitor Centre
Where: Trim Visitor Centre
What: Come and explore a spine-tingling exhibition of medieval life at the Trim Visitor Centre located in the shadow of the great ruined castle.
See the weaponry and equipment used by Norman Knights who lived in Trim 800 years ago.
When: Available from Tuesday, October 26th - 29th
For Who: All the family
Booking: Booking non-essential
The Old Rectory: Dr Dee and the Angels
Where: The Old Rectory, Trim
What: Dr John Dee should have been remembered as one of the great renaissance men, a jewel of the Elizabethan Golden Age.
Instead, he died in poverty and disgrace, shrouded in scandal and derision, all because he claimed to talk to angels in their own language.
Come to the Old Rectory and hear his story over a glass of mulled cider and canapes.
Was he really talking to angels or was there another explanation for his experiences?
You decide!
When: Saturday, October 30th
For Who: 18+
Booking: Booking Essential
CHECK OUT WESTMEATH
Pumpkin Carving
Where: Andean Alpaca
What: Andean Alpaca is an award-winning Alpaca Farm based in the Midlands and they are hosting a Pumpkin Carving event this year.
When: Available From Saturday, October 23rd - 31st
For Who: All the family
Booking: Booking Essential or call 0873209805.
Junior Einsteins Spooky Science Camp
Where: Walshestown Community Centre, Mullingar
What: Join us at spooky science camp to celebrate Halloween with our award winning science experiments, including..
Witches snot, swamp creature SLIME, vampire blood, magical glow sticks, squelchy glowing eyeballs, flying Alien saucers, Frankenstein Barbie, flashes of lightning, flying ghosts, light the lightsaber, illuminating lava lamps, forensic science: crime scene investigation (WHO DUNNIT?!) & LOTS of STEM fun!
Children are supplied with their own lab coats, goggles & gloves to participate in the Halloween camps. They take home their own experiments, including slime & lava lamps.
When: 31 Oct
For Who: Age 6 -12
Booking: Booking Essential or call 085 755 5635.
Halloween Creative Art Camp
Where: Crane Bird Art School, Mullingar
What: A fun and creative Halloween camp in a scary & spooky Art School / Art Studio
When: Available From Wednesday, October 27th - 29th
For Who: Various ages
Booking: Booking essential. Call 085 187 5458
Mullingar Tour Bus
Where: Various locations, Mullingar
What: Mullingar Tourist Bus will run throughout October at weekends and each day during the October Mid-Term Break connecting the Royal Canal Greenway with the range of restaurants, hotels and shops in Mullingar Town and Belvedere House, Gardens and Park – all day return tickets / hope on – hop off - €2 per adult or €1 per child.
When: Available Now Until Sunday, October 31st.
For Who: All the family
Booking: Booking non-essential
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Sharon Lavin, Head of Marketing & Communications with Waterways Ireland, said;
"We are thrilled to have such a wide variety of offerings this Halloween along the Royal Canal Greenway. Across all four counties through which the Royal Canal Greenway travels we have something for everyone throughout the week. Whether you want to spend your days enjoying leisurely walks in the countryside or entertaining the family between cycle stops you are sure to find what you are looking for. It's easy to stay over and keep exploring."
Check out Royal Canal Greenway social media for updates and visit www.royalcanalgreenway.com for more information and to plan your visit to the Royal Canal Greenway this Halloween.
