Home of Halloween Destination Development (Pilot) Scheme 2025

Fáilte Ireland is seeking Expressions of Interest from Local Authorities for a new pilot scheme focusing on delivering significant Culture and Heritage ‘Seasonal’ Halloween offerings, supporting destinations to enhance their existing festivals, events and experiences by adopting authentic Samhain and/or Halloween themes.

As a destination, Ireland has key strengths to offer for Home of Halloween, including authentic historical roots, cultural heritage, rich folklore, tourism appeal, existing festivals/events, and local community. Representatives from Fáilte Ireland, Tourism Ireland and Tourism Northern Ireland came together as part of a tri-agency project team to develop a 5-year Ireland, Home of Halloween Strategic Framework and Action Plan.

The Strategy will build out a unique selling proposition by establishing the authentic origins of Halloween in Ireland to differentiate from other global Halloween celebrations and achieve cultural tourism growth.

Fáilte Ireland was allocated a budget of €500,000 from the Department of Tourism to deliver a scheme with a priority focus on developing a critical mass of Halloween themed assets and experiences in 2025.

These experiences will increase the average length of stay for visitors across the island of Ireland, creating a new season incorporating the month of October and potentially extending into early November.

In recognition of the importance of community and to ensure they benefit directly from the Ireland, Home of Halloween opportunity, Fáilte Ireland is inviting Local Authorities (Republic of Ireland) to participate in a pilot scheme.

The pilot scheme is devised to support up to five destination hubs in creating and delivering a programme of authentic Samhain and Halloween themed festivals, events and experiences that will help to deliver a new ‘Season’ for Ireland.

Details of the New Scheme:

• This scheme is only open to Local Authorities (Republic of Ireland).
• The eligibility criteria are specifically tourism focused.
• This is a competitive process and funding amounts may vary over the duration of the scheme.
• Application forms for stage 2 will be issued to successful applicants once the Expression of Interest is evaluated.

To express your interest please contact festivals@failteireland.ie

Scheme Key Dates:

The deadline for completion and return of Expression of Interest Application Forms is Noon, Wednesday, 26th March 2025.

13th March	Expression of Interest (EOI) Form issued Thursday, 13th March. 2-week turnaround.
19th March	Closing date for clarification questions to be received by 12 noon. (Stage 1)
21st March	All answered clarification questions to be issued to all interested parties. (Stage 1)
26th March	Deadline for completed EOI forms Wednesday, 26th March.
1st April	Application Form will be issued to successful applicants following EOI. (Stage 2)
7th April	Closing date for clarification questions to be received. (Stage 2)
10th April	All answered clarification questions to be issued to all interested parties. (Stage 2)
30th April	Deadline for completion of application forms.