Dublin in chaos as hundreds flock to city centre for Halloween parade that doesn't exist
Chaos has erupted in Dublin city centre this evening as hundreds of people gathered for a Halloween parade, which had been advertised on a website but turned out not to be real
by Antony Clements-Thrower, Aakanksha Surve, Robbie Kane · The MirrorDublin city centre has been thrown into chaos as hundreds of people gathered for a "fake" Halloween parade this evening.
The pandemonium broke out after website My Spirit Halloween falsely advertised a Macnas Halloween Parade from 7pm to 9pm. The site claimed it would kick off at Parnell Street and conclude at Christchurch Cathedral, with crowds hundreds of people making their way to the area.
Despite numerous events taking place across Dublin, there is no mention of a Macnas Halloween parade on the Dublin City Council website tonight. Eyewitness Léna Scao told Dublin Live: "The bus drivers were going crazy with all the people on the road.
"The Gardai announced there was no Halloween parade. There were people everywhere, and the bus and tram drivers were going mad honking non stop so they could pass."
Footage from O'Connell Street reveals a large crowd of people gathered, causing buses to struggle to get through. Gardai took to Facebook to quash any rumours of a parade.
They said: "Please be advised that contrary to information being circulated online, no Halloween parade is scheduled to take place in Dublin City Centre this evening or tonight. All those gathered on O’Connell Street at present, in expectation of such a parade are asked to please disperse safely.
"Should you need our help or assistance, we are out on the beat along O’Connell Street and surrounding areas throughout this evening and tonight - please do not hesitate to stop and speak with us."
One person said on X: "People waiting for a Halloween parade. No Gardaí around, no official announcement, people waiting on the wrong side of the road...Someone did pull a big hoax."
Another added: "I’d say whoever started that fake Halloween parade rumour in Dublin is cracking up laughing about the number of people who showed up. Hilarious."
Sinn Fein councillor Janice Boylan said: "It seems to be an online scam. It's really sad to see that people are being scammed.
"Everyone is trying to have a fun and safe Halloween. Having a parade to go to sounded really good. I know an awful lot of people turned up. It's a terrible pity there are people out there who are trying to scam people."
Galway arts company Macnas held a parade around Halloween last year in both Galway city and Dublin city, but no plans to hold a Dublin performance were announced this year.