1 November 2025
By Valerie Ryan
valerie@TheCork.ie
Kinsale’s An Tulca Festival 2025 – A Celebration of Community,
Creativity, and Samhain Spirit
Kinsale’s streets glowed once again this Halloween as An Tulca
Festival 2025 brought the town to life with colour, creativity, and
community energy. Ireland’s only fully participatory Halloween parades
festival filled two magical days with parades, music, storytelling,
and shared celebration, reminding all who took part what true
community spirit feels like.
Supported by Cork County Council Arts Office, Pure Cork, Fáilte
Ireland, Eli Lilly, First South Credit Union, RSVP (Red Sandstone
Varied Productions), Transition Town Kinsale, The Lions Club Kinsale
Youth Theatre Project in association with the Old Head Golf Links, An
Tulca has become a cornerstone of Kinsale’s cultural calendar.
Collaborations with Fanzini, SuperValu, Kinsale.ie, and The Event Hub
ensured that this year’s festivities reached new heights.
The Directors of Old Head Golf Links are always keen to support the
local community of Kinsale and wider Cork area, in recognising how the
wonderful town and all that it offers adds to the incredible overall
experience that we are able to provide our members and guests. While
we currently work through the scheme and subsequent planning process
of what will become the incredible Old Head Townhouse we are delighted
to donate the use of the existing Seaview site to the Kinsale Youth
Theatre who provide an invaluable service to local families.
From the laughter of the Trick or Treat Parade on October 31st to the
breathtaking beauty of the Lantern Parade and First South Credit Union
Samhain Céilí on November 1st, thousands of participants, visitors,
and volunteers came together to dance, create, and celebrate the
turning of the year. The festival concludes with “Songs at the
Threshold,” a hauntingly beautiful, yet fun-filled lantern-lit finale
by writer/director Yvonne Coughlan, featuring a community cast of all
ages and live musicians weaving myth and movement into living Irish
folklore.
Festival Chair and Artistic Director Yvonne Coughlan said:
“An Tulca is a festival made by the people of Kinsale, for families
and community with sustainability in mind. Every mask, every lantern,
every step in the parade is a testament to our community’s imagination
and generosity. Together, we brought stories to life.”
The free community workshops, organised by Éidín Griffin, were once
again at the heart of the festival, welcoming hundreds of children,
families, and adults who created creatures, masks, and lanterns that
illuminated the town. Thanks to the tireless work of our artists,
volunteers, and local partners, An Tulca 2025 was a resounding
success, vibrant, inclusive, and deeply rooted in our shared heritage.
But while the magic of Samhain has passed, the festival’s future
depends on continued community support.
If you dance in the céilí, march in the parade, or simply smile as the
lanterns pass by, you are part of this story.
Please help us keep it alive by donating to our An Tulca Crowdfunding
Campaign at https://www.idonate.ie/crowdfunder/KinsaleHalloweenFestival
Local businesses that benefited from the increased footfall, energy,
and visibility during the festival are also invited to become An Tulca
Partners for 2026. Your sponsorship helps us continue offering free
workshops, accessible intergenerational events, and opportunities for
local artists.
Together, we make the magic happen, again and again.
An Tulca 2025 was produced by the Kinsale Halloween Committee with
gratitude to all our sponsors, artists, and volunteers. Committee:
Yvonne Coughlan – Chair & Artistic Director | Katy Mullins – Secretary
& Decor Coordinator | Éidín Griffin – Artist Coordinator | Kate Bowen
– Treasurer | Karen Garvin – Social Media | Ruth Silver – Production
Manager.
With artists: Martin O’Donoghue, Dinny Wheeler, Tara de Las Casas,
Levi Magyar, John Allen, Maurice Supple, Tess Healy Maguire, Chris
Hill, Jake Rayner-Blair, Xander Cinderey, Zain Hussein and many more.
Produced by: Kinsale Halloween Committee
Paul Grant and Amanda Diaz with Hannah and Maya Grant from Kinsale at the Halloween parade during Kinsale’s An Tulca Festival 2025.
Picture. John Allen
Alan, Edel, Myles and Jake Otter from Ballinspittle clowning about at the Halloween parade during Kinsale’s An Tulca Festival 2025.
Picture. John Allen
Charlie Lucy from Kinsale at the Halloween parade during Kinsale’s An Tulca Festival 2025.
Picture. John Allen
Leonard, Isabella and Selma Altran from Kinsale at the Halloween parade during Kinsale’s An Tulca Festival 2025.
Picture. John Allen
Levi Magyar drumming at the head of the Halloween parade during Kinsale’s An Tulca Festival 2025.
Picture. John Allen