Sandra McLellan (Cork East, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for her answer. When considering the origins of Hallowe'en, one must look to the festival of Samhain in Ireland's Celtic past and its importance as a festival that marked the end of summer and the start of winter. Our Celtic ancestors celebrated Hallowe'en as Samhain - all Hallowtide - the feast of the dead that brought people together and which we could learn from. Hallowe'en is an event in our calendar that we should look forward too. It should be a time of celebration and a fun night for communities and our young people in particular. In my home town, Youghal, we hold a festival called "Youghaloween Spooktacular", which is very successful.

Regrettably, however, 31 October has become synonymous in many places across the State with anti-social behaviour, vandalism and drunken attacks on our emergency services. In the lead-up to Hallowe'en and on the night itself many of our most vulnerable citizens are left fearful in their own homes, becoming victims of the type of loutishness that on occasion can have serious consequences. We must change how we celebrate Hallowe'en. One way to achieve this is to learn from the traditional Celtic rituals that made the feast of Samhain an event that was uniquely Irish, like one of the initiatives to which the Minister referred. I ask the Minister to consider promoting initiatives and providing funding in her Department.

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