Learn from the celts celebration of samhain says councillor

A local public representative has said Halloween could a safer and more enjoyable event by learning from the way the Celts celebrated the Festival of Samhain.

Sinn Féin’s Paul Hogan expressed disappointment at the dismissal of his party’s proposals about events on October 31, by Minister Heather Humphries recently in the Dáil.

Cllr Hogan said: “During a recent ministerial questions Sinn Féin put forward a number of proposals to the Minister; that her Department should look at how our ancestors celebrated the Feast of Samhain in order to build on the many excellent festivals and family oriented events that are held at Halloween.”

“In Athlone, a very successful Halloween festival has been running for many years now which combines a range of activities that bring enjoyment to an entire community and provide an economic boost for the town.”

The local councillor continued: “By learning from our Celtic ancestors we can improve existing festivals further and ensure Halloween is a date in our calendar that is a time of celebration for everyone.

“It is sadly the case that in many areas across this State, Halloween is used as an excuse for thuggish elements to participate in anti-social behaviour, with old and vulnerable people being placed at particular risk.

“During our debate with Minister Humphries, Sinn Féin cited the example of bonfire beacons that have proved very popular in towns and villages in  Down, where they are a safer, more eco-friendly alternative to traditional bonfires.”
“Her dismissal of my suggestion that we learn from our past and her reluctance to consider some of the initiatives that have proven successful in the North, on the grounds that they would ‘dilute’ the existing culture night, misses the point.”

He concluded: “If Minister Humphries is serious about ensuring a safe and enjoyable Halloween then her and her Department have a responsibility to ensure events constantly evolve and one way of achieving this is to learn from how the Feast of Samhain was celebrated in the past. Equally, Westmeath County Council needs to ensure the future of the Halloween festival in the interest of safety of our young and old at Halloween”.