Trick or Treat will be a non-runner this year but Halloween has NOT been cancelled! I invited people to submit ideas for things that people can do at home this year, and some of these suggestions are now shared here.
If you have any suggestions – crafts, recipes, local ghost stories, books or films – you can email them to content@delvinvillage.com.
Crafts
My thanks to Colette for getting in touch and sharing information about this amazing local (Mullingar) group.
Promoting only the skills of people with special needs, Recreate Mullingar focuses on expressing its members creativity through up-cycling and reuse of everyday household items. One recent project showed how to create a Halloween themed fairy house using just cardboard, pva glue, paper and a few other odds and ends.
Find out more on their Facebook Page.
Reading
My thanks to Leah for recommending “Meeting the Other Crowd: The Fairy Stories of Hidden Ireland” by Eddie Lenihan. I actually caught Eddie doing a live reading at Body&Soul a couple of years ago and he really is a great story teller.
'The Other Crowd', 'The Good People', 'The Wee Folk' and 'Them' are a few of the names given to the fairies by people in Ireland. Honoured for their gifts and feared for their wrath, the fairies remind us to respect both the world we live in and forces we cannot see. In Meeting the Other Crowd, Eddie Lenihan presents a book about a hidden Ireland, a land of mysterious taboos, dangers, other worldly abductions, enchantments and much more. It is a world which most Irish people acknowledge exists, but which few of them, except the very oldest or professional folklorists, know much more about. Eddie Lenihan opens our eyes to this invisible world with the passion and bluntness of a great storyteller. In doing so he provides one of the finest collections of Irish folklore in modern times.
Meeting the Other Crowd: The Fairy Stories of Hidden Ireland is published by Gill and available for €16 from Dubray Books (an Irish Company).
Viewing
Colette says “Let me recommend the series The Haunting of Bly Manor for all the ladies to watch AFTER the little ones goes to bed. A glass of wine required too as there are many jump scares throughout each episode. Very deep so no distractions recommended.“
I can also recommend this series! If you have access to Netflix and haven’t caught this “perfectly splendid” ghost story, you should check it out over the next few nights. Definitely more suitable for older teens and adults due to some of the language and content, but there is no nudity and no gore so use your own judgement on who can watch.
If you’re looking for a lavish, well polished horror story; this anthology series might satisfy you. Each season has a different tone and theme, from supernatural tales to real life horror and the evil side of humanity. You can stream 8 series of AHS on Netflix right now – Murder House, Asylum, Coven, Freak Show, Hotel, Roanoake, Cult and Apocalypse. This would be recommended for mature teens and adults only.
Online Workshops
- Online workshop
- 27th – 31st October
- Recommended by Leah
Bram Stoker Festival, Dublin and Macnas will present a series showing creative minds from 0 – 100, how to build and stage their own Halloween spectacle at home!
In a series of online videos released during the October Mid-Term, families nationwide will be guided through the creation of their own Macnas at home experience; from imagining your story, to mask making, movement and sound and drumming, you’ll follow step-by-step as Macnas teach you how to build and stage your own Hallowe’en spectacle at home! On Hallowe’en, we invite everyone to upload their creations to social media using the hashtag #BramStokerMacnas, for the whole world to see. Macnas are master storytellers who inspire and engage audiences creating big, bold, visual shows and performances through world-class theatrical experiences. This Hallowe’en, join them and become a pioneer of imagination at home! These videos, created by Macnas exclusively for Bram Stoker Festival, will be released via Bram Stoker Festival’s YouTube, Facebook and Instagram pages daily from Tuesday 27 October until Saturday 31 October. Suitable for all ages. All videos will be captioned in English for deaf/hard of hearing viewers.
- 30th October – 2nd November
- App Download & Tickets Required
- Recommended by Leah
An interactive adventure game, playable at home anywhere in the world, delivered through your phone or tablet. Fun for all ages, although we think Curse Hunters aged 6-11 will love it most of all… If you are reading this, then the prophecy has chosen you… it was a very vague prophecy, but we must obey it! As you will have already noticed, 2020 has unleashed an ancient curse upon the universe. Now it is on you (an “ADULT”) to lead a team of adventurers (“CHILD-FOLK”) to stop it. You will guide your young explorers as they create toxic elixirs in the kitchen, compose demon-wooing poetry and dress up like the slick, dimension-surfing HEROES they are. Only then shall the ancient curse be undone! This event is FREE but there is limited capacity. Free tickets for Curse Hunters will be available from Sunday 25th October at 6pm. Tickets available on a first come, first served basis. Suitable for ages 6 – 11. Supervision and participation by one adult/guardian required. The Universe needs you!
Games
My thanks to Leah for recommending a simple game for all the family. All you need are paper, pens and a wicked imagination. Click here for details.
Local Ghost Stories
There are a few ghostly residents living closer to home – and according to one local, IN their home! Thank you to the brave souls who shared their tales of our haunted heritage. Further information taken from the book “The Great Delvin” by Hannah Fitzsimons.