Samhain Sessions: Ireland’s Halloween roots come alive; Canadian arrivals up 4%

Tourism Ireland conjured up some festive “spirits” of its own at Noonan’s Pub in Toronto’s Danforth neighbourhood on Oct. 9, enchanting local media with a pumpkin-filled, Celtic-inspired pre-Halloween party.

The ghoulish gathering, called “Samhain Sessions,” was a celebration of Ireland’s legacy as the birthplace of Halloween. 

Samhain is an ancient Celtic festival, dating back some 2,000 years ago, that marks the end of the harvest season and the Celtic New Year, celebrated around October 31. 

It signals the onset of winter and the “darker half” of the year — a period when the veil between the physical world and the spirit world was believed to grow thin, allowing spirits to cross over.

“A lot of Halloween traditions we know and love in North America stem back from those roots,” said Sandra Moffatt, director - Canada at Tourism Ireland, speaking to PAX at the event, which featured glowing jack-o'-lanterns (one depicting the Derry Girls) and a live pumpkin carver. 

Ancient Halloween traditions

The traditional of carving scary faces into pumpkins, for one, originated in Ireland during the festival of Samhain. 

The ancient Celts believed that carving scary faces could keep wandering spirits—those who had crossed over from the land of the dead—at bay. But instead of pumpkins, they used turnips.

Then, when Irish immigrants brought the custom to America in the 1800s, they discovered turnips were scarce. So, they switched to pumpkins instead, Moffatt explained. 

READ MORE: A toast to 25 years: RIT Vacations celebrates a quarter century of Irish spirit in Canada

Dressing up in costume is another Halloween tradition with Irish roots. 

Ancient Celts would wear masks and costumes to trick spirits from the other world and avoid being taken. This practice eventually evolved into the tradition of dressing up as ghosts, skeletons, witches, and other creepy characters—a hallmark of Halloween as we celebrate it today.

Trick-or-treating, too, has roots in the medieval practice known as “souling.” 

During Samhain, people would leave out food and drink to appease wandering spirits, which is an early form of giving treats. 

However, the custom that more directly led to modern trick-or-treating was “souling,” where poor people went door to door at wealthy homes, offering prayers for the dead in exchange for food. 

Over time, this evolved into the tradition we know today: dressing up and visiting houses to sing, recite poems, or perform small tricks in return for treats.

Guests at Samhain Sessions – a “session,” by the way, is an informal gathering in Ireland where musicians play music together, often in a pub – had a chance to explore these traditions in more depth.

Attendees also sampled barmbrack, a traditional Irish fruitcake soaked in whiskey and typically enjoyed around Halloween. 

Small trinkets are hidden inside the cake to predict the finder’s fortune. For instance, a ring signals upcoming marriage, while a coin hints at future wealth. 

Haunted castles, ghostly festivals  

Ghost tours and ancient mythology are just some of the key attractions that drive tourism in Ireland, Moffatt explained. 

“We're a very old country, so there are a lot of ancient traditions. We also have a lot of castles – some of which may be haunted,” she said. 

Ballygally Castle in Northern Ireland, a haunted location with a specific room known for paranormal activity, is one. 

Leap Castle in County Offaly is another. It’s known as Ireland’s most haunted location due to its long history of bloodshed, torture, and violent events, including the murder of a priest in "The Bloody Chapel" and the discovery of a hidden oubliette filled with bones. It’s home to numerous ghost stories. 

Ireland also hosts numerous Halloween-themed festivals during the fall season. 

The city of Derry~Londonderry, for one, transforms into a living carnival, with Celtic creatures, ghostly spectacles, and a spellbinding parade that once earned the title of “World’s Best Halloween Destination” in a USA Today poll. This year’s four-day festival runs from Oct. 28-31. Click here for more. 

In Dublin, the Bram Stoker Festival (Oct. 31-Nov. 3) celebrates the creator of Dracula (who was born and raised in Dublin), with gothic theatre, immersive art, and after-dark adventures that would make the Count himself rise for a look. Click here for more. 

And in County Meath, the Púca Festival (Oct. 30-Nov 2) invites visitors deep into folklore, where the lines between myth and reality blur. 

Here, music, firelight, and feasting bring the ancient stories of the Púca — a mischievous shape-shifting spirit — vividly to life. Click here for more. 

For more on Ireland’s Halloween festivals, click here.

Canadian arrivals up 4%, improved air access 

It was a very Irish Thursday at Noonan’s that day – Tourism Ireland’s Samhain Sessions unfolded just hours after RIT Vacations’ 25th anniversary party, which was held at the same venue. 

READ MORE: Not just potatoes: Tourism Ireland spotlights Irish culinary scene – a “best-kept secret”

Last week, Tourism Ireland and RIT hosted 12 visiting Irish suppliers for an Ontario roadshow, connecting them with local travel advisors.

The activations come as Ireland sees notable growth from Canada – Moffatt said Canadian arrivals are up four per cent from 2024. 

“We have also moved up to the top four source of global tourism revenue into Ireland,” Moffatt said. “Canada is up from fifth in 2023 and up from seventh in 2019. It’s incredible to see this growth.” 

The increase is largely owed to improved air access. Ireland’s seat availability is up 11 per cent year on year thanks to direct air access from Vancouver, Calgary, Montreal and Halifax, as well as year-round daily direct flights from Toronto. 

WestJet’s non-stop St. John’s-Dublin service also returned this year, re-establishing a direct link between Newfoundland and Ireland, two regions that share historical and cultural ties. The flight is just 4.5 hours. 

Trends to watch 

One trend that’s drawing more tourists to Ireland, beyond Halloween festivals, ancestral ties and the emerald-green landscapes, is culinary tourism, Moffatt noted.

“People are starting to realize that we have an amazing food scene in Ireland,” she said. For more on that, click here.

Golf-related travel is also having a moment in the Emerald Isle– especially on the heels of Irish golfer Shane Lowry winning this year’s Ryder Cup for Team Europe. 

Golf enthusiasts will be eyeing Ireland in 2027 when the Ryder Cup heads to Ireland’s Adare Manor in County Limerick, Moffatt said.

Don't miss a single travel story: subscribe to PAX today!  Click here to follow PAX on Facebook.