15/10/2026
🎃🎃 𝗨𝗣𝗗𝗔𝗧𝗘𝗗 - 𝗛𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝗮𝘁 𝗔𝘂𝗴𝗵𝗻𝗮𝗻𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗖𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗹𝗲 🎃🎃
𝙋𝙡𝙚𝙖𝙨𝙚 𝙣𝙤𝙩𝙚 𝙪𝙥𝙙𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙚𝙭𝙩 𝙗𝙚𝙡𝙤𝙬 𝙩𝙤 𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙚 𝙪𝙥 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙥𝙤𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙧 - 𝙞𝙣 𝙥𝙖𝙧𝙩𝙞𝙘𝙪𝙡𝙖𝙧, 𝙀𝙙𝙙𝙞𝙚 𝙇𝙚𝙣𝙞𝙝𝙖𝙣 𝙞𝙨 𝙤𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙈𝙊𝙉𝘿𝘼𝙔 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙛𝙖𝙘𝙚 𝙥𝙖𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙤𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙎𝙐𝙉𝘿𝘼𝙔.
Our annual Halloween event is happening over the October bank holiday weekend on Sunday, October 25th to Monday, October 26th.
There will be a range of events to suit all ages, and admission to all events is FREE! Booking is required ONLY for the storytelling on Sunday. Contact us at 046 940 7220 or [email protected].
🎃Sunday, October 25th 🎃
12-4pm: Face Painting
Watch as your little ghouls and goblins transform into their favourite characters – whether it’s a fierce tiger, a magical fairy, or a spooky skeleton! Our talented face painter will bring their imaginations to life with colourful designs that are sure to delight. Don’t forget to snap a picture of your little monsters in their new looks!
12-4pm: Costume Competition
We’re on the hunt for the most spooktacular outfits this Halloween, with our annual children’s costume competition! All you have to do is turn up to Aughnanure Castle in your costume, register for the competition and we will shortlist our favourites, with the best, most creative creations winning prizes in the following categories:
1. Under 8s best costume
2. Over 8s best costume
3. Best family costume
12-4pm: Family Halloween Scavenger Hunt
Search the castle grounds for the various spooky Halloween characters hidden in the strangest of places! Can you find them all?
12-4pm: Mini Pumpkin Patch
Record your most Instagrammable moments at our mini pumpkin patch on the grounds of the castle, brimming with vibrant pumpkins of all shapes and sizes!
🎃Monday, October 26th 🎃
2-4pm: Storytelling with Eddie Lenihan
Eddie is well-renowned Irish author, storyteller and lecturer. He is one of the few practicing seanchaithe (traditional Irish lore-keepers and tale-spinners) remaining in Ireland. Come along to hear Eddie recount tales of haunted places, fairy paths, banshees and the otherworld in an enchanting afternoon storytelling session on the top floor of the castle. This has limited seating so booking is essential by phone or email. Not suitable for children under 10.
12-4pm: Costume Competition
We’re on the hunt for the most spooktacular outfits this Halloween, with our annual children’s costume competition! All you have to do is turn up to Aughnanure Castle in your costume, register for the competition and we will shortlist our favourites, with the best, most creative creations winning prizes in the following categories:
1. Under 8s best costume
2. Over 8s best costume
3. Best family costume
12-4pm: Family Halloween Scavenger Hunt
Search the castle grounds for the various spooky Halloween characters hidden in the strangest of places! Can you find them all?
12-4pm: Mini Pumpkin Patch
Record your most Instagrammable moments at our mini pumpkin patch on the grounds of the castle, brimming with vibrant pumpkins of all shapes and sizes!
The winning entries for the schools art competitions will also be on display all weekend.
Admission to all events is free and all are welcome!
(Please be aware that this will be a busy event so we would ask all our visitors to park responsibly over the bank holiday weekend)
Heritage Ireland
OPW - Office of Public Works
Joyce Country and Western Lakes Geopark
Oughterard Heritage
Moycullen Heritage
What's On Connemara
