As millions of childeren and adults participate in the fun of Halloween on the night of October 31st few will be aware of it's ancient Celtic roots. About 2000 years ago the family's ancestors were honoured and invited home whilst harmful spirits were warded off. People wore costumes and masks to disquise themselves as harmful spirites and thus avoid harm.Bonfires and food played a large part in the festivities. The bones of slaughtered livestock were cast into a communal fire hence the name bone fires food was prepared for the living and the dead.Food for the ancestors who were in no position to eat it. was ritually shared with the less well off.
I always looked forward to bonfires night on McHale Road, in my opionion we had the biggest and the best. The building of the bonfire was started the day before bonfires night at the enterance to McHale Park and I always remember Sgt Frank Fergus of the United States Army home on leave building it. It was all made of turf which I never did find out where the turf came from, it just appeared as it did every year, Frank made a wonderful job of it and I remember him showing me where he would light it, down at the bottom of the stack he made a little square enterence like a six inch doorway in which he would insert newspapers to be lit the next night. There was music, singing,I remember everyone was shouting for Donal Dunne to give us a song and what a great voice he had food, storytelling etc etc, one of the great memories growing up on McHale road then. I am sure a lot of McHale Road people home and abroad remember those times.