This Halloween, our city is about to come alive (or undead…) with Gaillimh Ah-Boo! 2025, a bold new celebration conjured up by Galway City Council. Bursting with local talent, Celtic magic, and a dash of mischief, it’s Galway’s own Samhain spectacular, where ancient folklore meets modern craic. Part of Fáilte Ireland’s Home of Halloween Pilot Destination Development Scheme, Gaillimh Ah-Boo! reclaims Ireland’s roots as the true Home of Halloween, and where better than Galway to lead the way? From street parades and fire shows to haunted trails, storytelling, and family fun, there’s something brewing for everyone this spooky season.
So grab your cloaks, light your lanterns, and dive into This is Galway’s Top 10 picks for what’s haunting the streets this October and November. It’s Halloween, Galway-style. To see the full Gaillimh Ah-Boo! timeline tap here.
“By the pricking of my thumbs, something wicked this way comes.” - William Shakespeare, 'Macbeth'
above: Macnas 2025
“All that we see or seem is but a dream within a dream.”
- Edgar Allan Poe ‘A Dream Within a Dream’
Parade: Macnas Halloween Parade
When: Sunday October 26th, from 5.30pm
Where: Galway City Streets
Price: free
More information here
Get ready for an evening of spectacular storytelling, dancing and an award-winning internationally acclaimed performance this October with the return of Macnas’ Halloween Parade. Macnas, world renowned masters of storytelling and pioneers of imagination, are excited to announce their brand new Halloween spectacle An Treun – The Summoning of the Lost, a spectacular, shape-shifting parade inspired by a long-lost tale by Dracula author Bram Stoker and the haunting call of the vanished Corncrake. Expect Macnas' signature collaborative creativity, electric energy and joyous abandon this Halloween in Galway. If you miss it, the parade will also take place at a later date during Dublin City Council Bram Stoker Festival.
above: The Dirty Circus
“Welcome to my nightmare. I think you're gonna like it.”
- Alice Cooper, ‘Welcome to My Nightmare’
Nightlife: The Dirty Circus Halloween Extravaganza
When: Halloween Night, Friday October 31st, doors at 7pm
Where: Pálás Cinema
Price: €25
More information here
The Dirty Circus invites you to a night of decadent darkness this Halloween. This full-building take-over is a one stop shop (of horrors) for your Halloween celebrations. With burlesque, big screen fun and cabaret entwined with fire, pole, and creatures from the realm of the strange and undead. Step into a sinister spectacle of haunting visuals and twisted artistry. Your host Slick’O will be joined by burlesque performers Memphis Shell & Scarlett Van Tassel, bellydancer Janina & an array of freaks including Grimm Squeaker and so many more.
above: Amharc by Rita Duffy
“I delight in what I fear.”
- Shirley Jackson, American Horror Writer
Exhibitions: Amharc - to look, to see
When: Daily from Friday October 24th to Sunday November 23rd, starting time is 5.30pm
Where: Multiple Locations (AIB/Lynch's Castle on Shop Street, Claddagh Credit Union on Mainguard Street, Murphys Ice Cream Shop on High Street, An Phoblacht on William Street, and Kai Restaurant on Sea Road)
Price: free
More information here
Five shop fronts across the city will be transformed into miniature stage sets by renowned Irish artist Rita Duffy. A selection of windows will house ‘reanimated furniture’ as unique magical installations, and digital screens will present animated drawings. Just as the darkness of winter casts its chilly spell on Galway, we invite you to take a walk and find these beautifully lit ‘alternative shop’ windows. Each art work is its own surreal little theatre, celebrating the darkness, inviting the passerby to stop for a while and look. Drawing inspiration from recent travels in South America and referencing diverse sources such as Dr. Caligari's Cabinet, Flemish altar paintings, traditional shrines, each window tells its own story. The eclectic mix of influences promises a unique aesthetic that blends theatre, visual art, and storytelling.
above: Anna Clifford, courtesy Galway Comedy Festival
“There’s a little witch in all of us.”
- Aunt Jet Owens, ‘Practical Magic’
Comedy: Anna Clifford’s Comedy for Witches
When: Monday October 27th, doors at 4pm
Where: Pálás Cinema
Price: €16
More information here
Join your host Anna Clifford and Aideen McQueen, Síomha Hennessy, and Sinéad Quinlan for a night of astrology, blaming the moon, magical storytelling and PLENTY of audience interaction. They say the word Witch with a pinch of salt, eye of newt and hair of an ex! It’s for ANYONE who resonates to something more powerful beyond us like the moon or the icloud! Come with your star signs and leave with laugh lines. Anna Clifford’s Comedy for Witches is running as part of the Galway Comedy Festival 2025 for more information on that and to see its full programme please tap here.
above: The Genevieve Ryan Dance Academy
“'cause I can thrill you more than any ghoul would ever dare try.”
- Michael Jackson, ‘Thriller’
Dance: Samhain Community Dance Spectacle
When: Thursday October 30th, at 7pm
Where: Eyre Square
Price: free
More information here
In partnership with Galway City Council’s Night-Time Economy, the Genevieve Ryan Dance Academy is taking over Eyre Square with a spine-tingling community dance spectacle. This event will bring Samhain to life with a spectacular reimagining of Michael Jackson’s legendary “Thriller” dance. This performance is a community ritual, weaving modern pop culture with the powerful magic of ancient Celtic folklore. As the veil between worlds thins at this ancient time, we invite Galway’s residents, community groups, and dance schools to step into a space “out of time” and embody powerful figures from Irish folklore. The Genevieve Ryan Dance Academy has created easy-to-follow instructional videos so you can learn the moves ahead of time, and professional dancers will be on hand on the night to guide everyone through the routine.
"I ate his liver with some fava beans and a nice Chianti.”
- Hannibal Lecter, ‘Silence of the Lambs’
Dining: Féasta Fómhair - A Halloween Spectacle Dinner Evening
When: Halloween Night, Friday October 31st, doors at 6.30pm
Where: St. Nicholas Collegiate Church
Price:€95
More information here
As part of Gaillimh Ah-Boo!, the candlelit historic St Nicholas’s Church will be the backdrop for the exquisite Féasta Fómhair (Harvest Feast) - a one-night-only dining experience curated by acclaimed chef JP McMahon, celebrating Samhain’s traditions through food. Inspired by seasonal produce, local heritage, and storytelling, this extraordinary five-course harvest dinner brings together some of Galway’s finest chefs and producers for a cultural and culinary highlight of the festival. A true feast for all the senses, book your seat today for an incredible night of food and drink.
“I was just thinking about the life of a pumpkin. Grow up in the sun, happily entwined with others, and then someone comes along, cuts you open, and rips your guts out.”
- Buffy Summers, ‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer’
Competition: Pumpkin Carving
When: Bank Holiday Monday October 27th, at 6pm
Where: Ré Coffee + Design
Price: €10 + booking fee
More information here
Get ready for some Samhain fun and put your artistic side to the test! Join Ré Coffee + Design for a Pumpkin Carving Competition you won't want to miss. Enter individually or team up with a friend, all supplies will be provided but you’re welcome to bring any special tools you may need to create your design or to make it stand out. Festive drinks and snacks will be available to purchase on the night. This event is part of the Galway City Café Lates Initiative, an initiative funded by Galway City Council and the Department of Culture, Communications, and Sport.
“I see dead people.”
- Cole Sear, The Sixth Sense
Parade: Samhain Procession - Día de los Muertos
When: Sunday November 2nd, from 6pm
Where: Galway City Streets
Price: free
More information here
Come onto the streets of Galway for a special procession that celebrates our ancestors! This vibrant event will bring together three traditions: Samhain, Día de los Muertos, and All Souls' Day. Led by the Mexican community, the procession will be a beautiful and colourful celebration filled with music, dance, and joy, honouring the shared reverence for ancestors at the heart of all three celebrations. It's a way for everyone to come together and celebrate the powerful bonds that connect us to our past, present, and future. This event is being held in partnership with the vibrant Mexican Community in Galway, Galway City Council Night-Time Economy.
"I would like, if I may, to take you on a strange journey."
- The Criminologist, ‘The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975)’
Walking Tour: Dark History Tours
When: Daily from Thursday October 23rd to Sunday November 2nd, tours start at 6.30pm
Where: Meeting point - Explore Galway Kiosk, Eyre Square
Price: €20
More information here
As dusk descends upon Galway, venture into its shadowy alleys and cobblestone streets with Experience Galway. Their expert guides will lead you through the city, weaving tales of crime, punishment, and folklore that lurk beneath its surface. From ancient legends to more recent mysteries, you'll gain insight into the darker side of Galway's history. This tour is perfect for dark history enthusiasts and anyone seeking an immersive cultural experience, as they offer an informative and memorable journey into Galway's intriguing past. Book your spot now and witness Galway in a whole new light as you delve into its hidden history.
“A lantern in his hand he bears, the way by night to show; and, from its flame, he's got the name of Jack O'Lantern now."
- Hercules Ellis, ‘The Romance of Jack O'Lantern’
Performance: Tine Fire Show
When: Wednesday October 29th, at 7pm
Where: Spanish Arch
Price: free
More information here
Setting alight the night sky, Tine Lasta / The Lighting Flame will fuse the spectacular nature of circus and fire performance together with the illusions of magic and object manipulation along with the expressiveness of dance and theatre ROGU focuses on creating shows that push the boundaries of what fire and light performance can be. A jaw-dropping and breathtaking performance all in once, this event is guaranteed to be a highlight of Gaillimh Ah-Boo! 2025.
For even more gory details, visit the Gaillimh Ah-Boo! Website at gaillimhahboo.ie and join us in celebrating a brand new Samhain tradition where myth meets mayhem in the heart of Galway.
