Waterford to celebrate folklore, magic and myth as Samhain festival returns for Halloween

Waterford City and County Council and Fáilte Ireland have confirmed the return of Samhain, a celebration of the folklore, magic and myth of Ireland’s ancient Halloween traditions. 

Throughout the October Bank Holiday weekend, Waterford city will be awash with a fusion of spooky, spectral and bewitching events under the watchful eye of An Dearg Dua, a 2,000-year-old female vampire with binding Déise connections.

On Friday, October 25award-winning street spectacle creators, Spraoi, returns to streets of Waterford with a stunning shadowySamhainprocession and finale performance.  ThemedFire and Shadowsthis year’s procession is inspired by An Dearg Dua, a unique piece of Waterford folklore.

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Born in Waterford during the Iron Age, An Dearg Dua is the quintessential vampire.  Her behaviour, as an undead, stems from personal tragedy brought about by her father’s greed and ambition, plus the callousness of the chieftain she was forced to marry. 

The Dearg Due, or Dearg Dur, is said to translate from ancient Irish as the Red Thirst or Red Bloodsucker.  Another version of the name is even more chilling, An Dearg Dúth which simply means The Red Black which could be interpreted as living blood that dies.

The Fire and Shadows procession will commence at approximately 7.30pm, adjacent to the Irish Wake Museum in Waterford’s Viking Triangle and weave through the streets with its audience towards the city centre for its blood-curdling finale!

In addition to the Samhain procession, Waterford city will play host to a flurry of fun, family-friendly concerts, food stalls, tales and treats from October 25 to October 27.

Full details ofSamhainwill be announced in the coming weeks as Ireland’s Oldest City transforms to bring the story ofSamhainto life and celebrate Ireland as the Home of Halloween.