From 28th to 31st October last, Community Groups in Ringsend hosted the area’s first ‘Halloween Festival’.

Over 400 children, along with parents and grand-parents participated in the four-day festival programme. A massive thanks goes to the twenty-one groups who participated in and supported this event. A big thank you also goes to the Lansdowne Development Fund, who allocated a Community Gain Grant.

The festival was organised with the Joint Policing Sub-Committee. Ringsend Park Working Group was set up with a view to reducing incidents of anti-social behaviour in Ringsend Park and the surrounding area over the Halloween period.

Its membership includes local public representatives, Gardai from Irishtown Garda Station, Community Representatives and Dublin City Council officials from the Parks Section and the South East Area office.

A major event of this year’s Festival was the Halloween Parade that took place on 31st October. This parade was open to all local Community Groups and the theme for the Parade was ‘The Banshee in a Boat’. Special thanks goes to the Staff and Students of the Ringsend Technical College who made the Banshee.

Floats and mascots were specially devised for the event by participating community groups. It certainly made for a colourful spectacle on the night. Stilt walkers from Ringsend Irishtown youth service had been in training for four weeks for the parade, we are happy to report nobody fell off.

The idea behind the Festival event was prevention. The Community has worked and continues to work in conjunction with local Community Gardai and Dublin City Council around drug and alcohol misuse.

Gardai reported that the Festival had a tangible effect on the area over Halloween as there was a marked reduction in the number of unauthorized bonfires and general anti-social behaviour, so a success all round.

The following lists the Groups who participated and who continue to work for the young people of Ringsend. Once again, a Special Thank You to all who supported by volunteering and giving of their time: Ringsend & Irishtown Community Centre, Ringsend Community Technical College, Power O1 Lone Parents Group, Clanna Gael G.A.A. Club, Ringsend Community Training Centre, Irishtown Stage School, Ringsend & Irishtown Youth Project, Ringsend Active Retirement Group, Ringsend Over 50S Group, Cambridge Court Senior Citizens, Ringsend & District Resist Drugs, C.Y.M.S, Garda Band, St Patrick’s Rowing Club, Stella Maris Rowing Club, Ringsend Créche, The F. A. I., Ringsend Community Services Forum, The Spellman Centre (RDRD) and Dublin City Council.
Above left: Irishtown Stage School