Culture

Sara Keating: Irish festivals make no bones about dark side of Samhain

In the birthplace of Halloween, our cultural calendar draws thrill-seeking lovers of the darker arts, as well as providing a festival of light

Galway theatre troupe Macnas revive their public parade this year after a four-year hiatus, taking the Eastern European legend of La Loba as the theme for this year’s theatrical promenade. Picture: Emilija Jefremova

At the Museum of Country Life in Castlebar, Co Mayo, there is an extensive permanent exhibition dedicated to Life in the Community.

The exhibition explores key festivals in Irish culture through their traditional celebratory practices: St Brigid’s Day in February, when people wove crosses to seek the saint’s blessing; the summer solstice, when bonfires were lit to bless the harvest; and the festival of Samhain on November 1, which marked the first day of winter, ...