Oíche Shamhna – Halloween Traditions on Inis Mór
Oíche Shamhna – Halloween Traditions on Inis Mór the largest of the three Aran Islands, where the tradition of the pagan festival has always been very strong. Pre COVID it was much more mixing and mingling and a fun fancy dress céilí na bpúcaí (ghosts) in the Halla on Inis Mór where nobody spoke until after midnight so as not to reveal their identities. Due to the impact of Covid such events haven’t happened but this year a new Oíche Shamhna and Halloween Traditions event returns on Inis Mór.
On Saturday 30th October a Halloween market will be held on Inis Mór at the local hall or Halla in Kilronan Village and it will run from 12noon until 3pm,followed by “taisce agus tríocha na Samhna” or a Halloween Treasure Hunt which will ao start from the Halla and run from 3.30pm until 4.30pm, the charge for this is €10 per family. The tradition of Halloween or Oíche Shamhna house visiting is back this year it will take the traditional island manner but will observe social distance. The pubs on Inis Mór will have a Halloween fancy dress and there’s also the tradition of the best dressed scarecrow on Inis Mór. Throughout the island, visitors will see Scarecrows in fields and front gardens of homes and scarecrows will simply randomly appear on Inis Mór for Halloween. The best dressed scarecrow wins a prize! Beannachtaí féile na Samhna oraibh go léir.
Aran Island Ferries continues its year round sailing from Rossaveal to all three of the Aran Islands, for full details and to book your tickets log onto www.aranislandferries.com or tel 091568903 or email [email protected] and for all accommodation and details of activities on Inis Mór, check out www.exploreinismor.com Follow @aranislandferry on social media for all of the latest news and updates.
