A frightfully good trip to Europe’s biggest Halloween festival

Ireland is the birthplace of Halloween, tracing its roots back over 2,000 years to the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain (Picture: Diana Jarvis)

From Wednesday Addams to Pennywise the killer clown, author James Draven meets the kooky characters at Derry Halloween. 

‘This is crazy!’ says Mike as he tries to negotiate a plastic pint-glass through the mouthguard of his Hannibal Lecter mask.  

‘It’s so intense,’ he adds, as he gestures towards the crowds of costumed revellers that engulf him, the lights, the noise that pulses throug...