For information on Derry’s 40th Halloween check here: https://derryhalloween.com/
1. Mary
We spoke with Long Tower resident Mary Blair, who reflected on what Halloween was like when she was growing up. She said: “It wouldn't have been like what it is now. We would dress up, my mother would bake apple cakes and we would dunk for apples. You put your hands behind your back, had a basin with apples in it, and then had to try and get them with your teeth, which wasn't easy. “One year, I remember, I must have been about nine or 10. We lived in the Waterside at that time and my friend and I dressed up as witches. In school we painted the hats, so the hat was black and, of course, what kind of night was it? The usual Derry rain came. When I got home there was more black paint on my face and down my shoulders. That was the fun of Halloween.” Mary also shared her thoughts on how Halloween has grown in the city. She said: “Now it is marvellous. Everybody comes here in October to celebrate Halloween. You also like to promote your city.” Mary said she is hoping to get out and enjoy this year's Halloween festivities and is currently trying to convince her friends to dress up as nuns inspired by the film Sister Act. The Derry woman said she does not often watch horror films, but recalled going to the Palace cinema, now Silver Street, to see the 1958 Christopher Lee film Dracula. “I think that put me off scary films. I think The Addams Family would be more my kind of enjoyable film,” Mary laughed. Photo: Jack Tibbetts
2. Ethan McCaughan and Cahir Conlon
Magee students Ethan McCaughan from County Down and Cahir Conlon from County Fermanagh said they are both staying in Derry for Halloween during their third year at university. The two friends said they will be dressing up as SpongeBob and Patrick Star from the cartoon SpongeBob SquarePants. They also have a second group costume planned, with the rest of their friends dressing up as characters from South Park. “Nowhere does it like here,” said Cahir. Ethan added: “It's unbelievable.” Photo: Jack Tibbetts
3. Sean Alan
Sean Alan, better known by their drag name Marlon Cavity, said that if you are going to celebrate Halloween anywhere, Derry is the place to be. Sean added that they will be dressing up as Jack Skellington from The Nightmare Before Christmas. He said that Halloween is the scariest film he has ever seen. Photo: Jack Tibbetts
4. Darragh O'Loughlin
Darragh O’Loughlin, originally from County Kildare but living in Derry for the past two years, said he is looking forward to showing friends from England what Europe’s largest Halloween celebrations are like. “I’m going to leave it as a bit of a surprise just how big the scale of Halloween is here,” said Darragh. This year, Darragh is dressing up as a chef, but beneath his chef’s hat will be a rat, inspired by Pixar’s Ratatouille. The film Hereditary is the movie that Darragh said scared him the most. Photo: Jack Tibbetts