Ballydehob just revealed the creepy theme for its Samhain Parade this year
They’re away with the birds…
The West Cork mischief is ramped up to the fullest in the run-up to Samhain -and it seems the deeper west you go, the more you find.
Heading the pack of tricksters, artists, musicians, community groups and local businesses is the Ballydehob Jazz crew, who are calling the community together once more for a Samhain Festival this year.
The theme of the parade is “Away with the Birds” which plays on the old Irish notions and myths of “away with the faeries”- the malevolent spirits from the Celtic underground that stole Irish people away from their homes in the middle of the night.
The “Away with the Birds” theme represents a connection to the natural rather than solely mythical world this year, and participants in the parade are expected to don homemade masks, props, and other upcycled creations to dance and prance their way through the village making noise and mad music as they go.
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In 2022 the village saw a ragtag of locals take to the streets for The March of the Cailleacha when caileach (witches), preachán (crows), babóg (dolls), and brídóg (a special kind of doll made from rushes) wound their way through the streets- everything lovingly made by artists and children from and around Ballydehob.
As always, the Samhain Parade is expected to attract big crowds from the surrounding communities and further afield.
The Away with the Birds Samhain Parade takes place on Sunday, October 29th from 6pm. Attendance is free and all are encouraged to dress up for the occasion.
