Trick or Treat With the Family in Ireland

Ireland should already be on your list of must-visit destinations, but with such a rich history steeped in rebellion, royalty and political strife, consider visiting at Halloween. Lean in to the haunted history and spooky abandoned castle vibe of the Irish hills and enjoy a Halloween abroad with kids of any age.

Families and small groups link up with a tour company for a well-rounded experience through the countryside. Vagabond is offering an in-depth look at the culture, history and authentic Irish traditions of Halloween. Delve into the history of the Druids in 5,000 BC, Celtics in 200 BC and early Christian influences over the beloved holiday.

Guests go beyond standard tour buses and explore the countryside by 4×4 Mercedes or Land Rover. Active travelers and families, opt for Vagabond Adventure Tours on the eight-day Wild Irish Rover Tour. With a mix of hiking, history, outdoor activities and culture, guests roam from the southwest peninsulas up to Connemara.

With less focus on the actual holiday and more on the region and season, depart Oct. 14 for a hiking, horseback riding, kayaking, cycling and boating adventure tour. Stay a few nights in a castle and head out to the local bar crawl in Dingle, listening to ghost stories and regional history.

Dive into the spooky history of old-world Ireland with the six-day Ancient Ireland Tour. Focused on Halloween traditions and creepy fun, this Driftwood Journeys of Discovery tour explores Ireland’s east coast filled with bogs, ancient towers and a rich history from the Stone and Iron Ages.

Wicklow Mountains, Ireland © Valentina C | Dreamstime.com

Hear all about the sunken, preserved bog bodies and the buried corpses while passing through the Wicklow Mountains. With Viking tales, countless invasions and medieval stories, this region is filled with dark history. Visit sites of Viking landing longboats and 19th-century strife.

As you may learn on either tour, Ireland knows how to celebrate Halloween.

Check out the Macnas Halloween Parade, Oct. 28, in Galway with around 40,000 other visitors or stick to the literary classics in Dublin during the Bram Stoker Festival, Oct. 26–29.

Trek over to Derry and Londonderry, Oct. 26–Nov. 3, for the Derry Halloween: Return of the Ancients fair. Loaded with monster-themed fun and haunted harvest markets, guests of any age enjoy low-key Halloween fun.

Make your way to Belfast on Halloween night for an epic fireworks display.

Hear all about the history of costumes, bonfires and Jack-o-lanterns (using turnips in Ireland before immigration brought the tradition to North America) during your family’s Irish holiday.