Halloween, the gateway to Winter on the island of Ireland
Did you know that the Celtic festival of Samhain – the root of Halloween – traditionally marked the start of winter? Today, Halloween is still the gateway to the winter season in Ireland with clocks going back and everything getting that little bit cosier. It’s also one of the most magical times to visit the island of Ireland – think crisp winter walks, fun festivals, dark skies and fire-warmed pubs.
Here are some of the best ways to enjoy winter to the full.
Enjoy winter light and night skies
Although the days are shorter, with the sun low in the sky, winter light in Ireland can be amazing, with a soft glow that will light up your photographs.
During the winter months, there are also more hours of darkness to see the stars on clear nights. Thanks to low levels of light pollution, especially away from urban areas, many areas of Ireland are perfect for viewing the night sky, and the island has three areas that are officially accredited by the International Dark Sky Association.
Mayo Dark Sky Park in Wild Nephin National Park, County Mayo, covers an area of 150 km2 between the Nephin Mountains and the Atlantic. The park’s tagline is “half the park is after dark”. There are free night sky viewing points in the park and weekly dark sky walks. During the Mayo Dark Sky Festival every November, you can also enjoy talks, stargazing, guided walks and entertainment.
In County Kerry, the gold-tier Kerry International Dark Sky reserve on the Iveragh Peninsula or Ring of Kerry has been accredited since 2014 and is another area with low light pollution and a low population density. Many of the area’s Neolithic monuments and stone circles line up with the celestial bodies, sunrises and moonrises too. Check out Kerry Dark Sky Tourism for tours.
In Northern Ireland, OM Dark Sky Park and Observatory in the Sperrin Mountains has daily guided tours of its exhibition, plus astronomy sessions and meteor viewing parties. And if you’d like to stay longer, just book a pod at Sperrin View Glamping – each one comes with a special viewing window, so you can lie back and gaze at the stars.
It’s not just stars that you might spot in Irish skies. As the sun’s 11-year cycle reached its peak in 2024, the Northern Lights have been more active in recent years. While they are sometimes spotted in County Donegal and along the Causeway Coast in Northern Ireland, the lights have been seen all over Ireland on nights of strong activity. Keep an eye on the Aurora forecast during your visit, to find out when the best chance of seeing them is.
Night tours and music by candlelight
Winter is a great time for night tours, with the darkness making them more atmospheric. In Dublin, both the True Crime Tour and the Legends, Ghosts and Ghouls of Dublin are best done when it’s dark for extra ambience. The Dark History tour of Galway City runs in the evenings, to take you deep into the city’s hidden history. In Belfast, try the Halloween Night Tour Paranormal and Ghost Tour through the quiet city streets.
Prefer something a little more atmospheric? Winter is a great time for enjoying a live music performance by candlelight. Visit St Patrick’s Cathedral in Dublin for live music performances by candlelight, or check out one of Candlelit Tales’ performances with music and storytelling. In Belfast, there are candlelight concerts throughout the city in January and February.
Find some outdoor adventures
Winter is not all about staying indoors – crisp, clear winter days are ideal for refreshing walks in parks or beaches, or even mountain hikes. Wrap up well and set out early to make the most of the short day. Watch for snowfall on high ground. There will be less crowds on the trails, so you will feel like you have them all to yourself.
Winter favourites which are not too exposed include walks around the lakes in Glendalough in Wicklow Mountains National Park, the Barrow towpath in County Carlow, and the Lake Loop in Castlewellan Forest Park, County Down.
Surfers know that the best Atlantic waves are in winter and you can do surfing lessons year-round in Ireland, particularly along the west coast. The surf companies supply warm wetsuits, gloves and booties – bring a flask with a hot drink to warm up afterwards. Bundoran in County Donegal, Strandhill in County Sligo, Lahinch in County Clare and Portrush in County Antrim are all good bets (depending on conditions) as they have surf schools and also warm cafés and pubs for post-surfing refreshments.
Sit by the fire in a cosy pub
After your day’s winter adventures, you can enjoy an evening in a cosy Irish pub, perhaps in front of an open fire. Pubs that feel particularly snug in winter include The Thatch Pub in Ballyshannon, County Donegal; Sean’s Bar in Athlone, County Westmeath; Crosskeys Inn, County Antrim, and The Harbour Bar, Portrush, County Antrim.
There are lots of super-cosy restaurants that are magical in winter, too, and nothing beats a traditional cottage in winter. Try the rustic thatched cottage setting of 1826 Adare, County Limerick, or the Michelin-starred Homestead Cottage Doolin, County Clare, also set in a cottage. The super-charming Clenaghans in County Armagh, with its low beamed ceiling and warm atmosphere is another winter favourite.
Celebrate at a festival
Finally, enjoy of the island of Ireland’s great winter festivals and celebrations. At Halloween, check out the Púca festival, which takes over the towns of Trim and Athboy in Co Meath, for music, storytelling and entertainment, as well as the Derry Halloween festival and the Bram Stoker festival in Dublin. At Christmas, check out the Belfast Christmas Market, which starts in mid-November and brings the area around City Hall alive in the winter months, and head to Dublin for the New Year’s Festival. And the perfect way to kick off January? Book tickets for Tradfest which hits Temple Bar Dublin every January for the best Irish traditional and folk music.