Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

My Department has no plans to become involved in or fund Hallowe'en or Samhain celebrations in a manner similar to Culture Night. Most families already celebrate Hallowe'en. Every house has trick or treat and one makes every effort to be at home when children call and to have something to give them. Gardaí organise fireworks displays also and there are a great many things going on at Hallowe'en.

I am, however, pleased to advise the Deputy of a joint initiative between the National Museum of Ireland, Age & Opportunity, Poetry Ireland and supported by the and . The initiative is entitled "Samhain: shadows, sounds and stories" and has received funding from my Department in co-operation with the Northern Ireland funding scheme. It consists of a multimedia exhibition of photographs and creative-writing with an accompanying soundscape and it will be on display at the National Museum of Ireland on Kildare Street from 20 November to 7 December. Entry will be free of charge. The work has been produced by groups of older people in Belfast, Dublin and Mayo who created photographic, musical and written responses to the Celtic festival of Samhain.

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