The clocks go back this weekend, the evenings are closing in, and Leinster is leaning right into the dark half of the year. The mood is full Halloween: a woodland trail out in the trees, a family panto for the small ones, and a county festival up in Longford that runs for over a week. Here’s what’s worth your Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
Town of the week
Living in Athy, Co. Kildare, the median house price is €371,878 across 292 registered sales, average rent is €1,368 a month and the nearest Intercity rail stop is 0.5 km away.
Events This Week
Family spook for the weekend, plus a low-key social to see out the week.
Luggwoods Fall Festival 2026, Kids follow a woodland trail gathering ingredients to restore the enchanted forest, with a ride aboard the Spookwood Express thrown in.
Mon 26 October · Luggwoods · Dublin · €24.95 · Festival
Luggwoods Fall Festival 2026, The same spellbinding forest walk, built for families who want a bit of spook without the frights.
Tue 27 October · Luggwoods · Dublin · €24.95 · Festival
Language Exchange Ireland, Practise a language over topic cards in a relaxed, all-levels social, with a crowd ranging from 18 to 70+.
Wed 28 October · Arlington Hotel · Dublin · €7
Luggwoods Fall Festival 2026, Last of the week’s dates for the enchanted woodland adventure, ideal for a mid-term outing with the kids.
Thu 29 October · Luggwoods · Dublin · €24.95 · Festival
Little Red & The Big Bad Wolf, A panto-style retelling of the fairy tale, pitched squarely at younger kids and the grown-ups minding them.
Sat 24 October · Ambassador Theatre · Dublin
Little Red & The Big Bad Wolf, Sunday matinee of the same Halloween run, a gentle hour for the small ones before the week kicks off.
Sun 25 October · Ambassador Theatre · Dublin
What’s Happening
The one to build a few days around if you’re up the midlands way.
Longford’s Dead of Night Festival 2026, Nine days of live performance, street entertainment, storytelling and family Halloween events take over the whole town.
Longford
Planning near you
194 homes at Maynooth, Co. Kildare, granted by Kildare County Council on 13 October.
99 homes at Dundalk, Co. Louth, granted by Louth County Council on 2 October.
61 homes at Rathnew, Co. Wicklow, granted by Wicklow County Council on 8 October.
Get new applications in your county by email, free: Dublin · Carlow · Kildare · Kilkenny · Laois · Louth · Meath · Offaly · Westmeath · Wexford · Wicklow
Planning: Irish Planning Applications, Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (CC-BY 4.0), via the weekly leinsterinsider.ie snapshot.
Making a night of the midlands
If Longford’s Dead of Night has you tempted to stay over rather than drive home in the dark, it’s worth sorting a room early while the festival’s on. A base in or near the town means you can catch an evening of street entertainment without clock-watching. Find a place to stay in Longford
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Events & attractions: Fáilte Ireland Open Data (failteireland.ie), CC BY 4.0.