The annual Ringsend Halloween Festival is set to kick-off from Wednesday October 30th until Friday November 1st. The event, which celebrates Halloween throughout Ringsend and Irishtown, is billing 2013 as one of its best, encompassing the close community spirit the area is known for. “The event will be very similar to last year,” said Mary Doolin, Director of the Ringsend Community Services Forum.
“There will be face painting, a Halloween party and story telling.”
Much like last year, the list of events for young and old is expansive. Wednesday October 30th includes an FAI Kids Soccer Camp at Irishtown Stadium from 10am – 1pm, a GAA Halloween Kids Camp in Clanna Gael from 10am – 2:30pm, and a Halloween Family Disco at Stella Maris Rowing Club from 6pm – 8pm.
Thursday October 31st, Halloween, includes “Really Scary Stories” in Ringsend Library from 1pm – 2:30pm, a Halloween Party at the Spellman Centre from 3pm – 5:00pm and The Monsters Parade from Irishtown Stadium at 5pm.
On Friday November 1st Irishtown Stadium will host more FAI Kids Soccer Camps and run a Multi-Sports Camp.
The Ringsend Community Service Forum, an umbrella organisation that includes 29 groups, runs the event in conjunction with local leaders and families. In its sixth year now, it was at one time organised by the Joint Policing Sub-Committee and the Ringsend Park Working Group in a bid to drive young people away from anti-social behaviour.
“While we may not have changed the mindsets of older age groups – who see Halloween as fires and drinking – the young people are starting to identify Halloween as a time when there’s loads going on in the area,” said Mary.
For more information you can contact Mary Doolin at Ringsend and District Response to Drugs or visit the website ringsendhalloween.com.
Left: Adam Caulfield and his friend get in the spirit.
(Halloween Festival PR photo)
By Liam Cahill
