Ghosts, ghouls and trick-or-treaters across most of Ireland look set for a kind Halloween this year. Met Éireann says Saturday will be mostly dry and bright, with mild temperatures for the time of year, although the west coast may not escape the rain entirely.
That is welcome news after a changeable October, and it means bonfire nights, community events and trick-or-treating in towns and villages from Clifden to Cork should mostly escape a soaking.
Halloween falls on a Saturday this year, a week after the October bank holiday, which means many children will be out on a weekend evening rather than a school night.
The forecast, day by day
Friday: The eastern half of the country stays dry with sunny spells. It is cloudier elsewhere, with scattered rain and drizzle gradually spreading into Atlantic counties, including Galway and Connemara.
Saturday (Halloween): Any early patchy rain should clear, giving way to sunny spells. Rain may linger for a time along Atlantic coasts but turns increasingly patchy, with late sunshine in the north-west. The midlands, south and east should be dry with sunny spells for much of the day. Top temperatures will be 12 to 15 degrees, which is mild for the end of October. Met Éireann warns that damp and misty conditions may develop late in the evening, so trick-or-treaters heading out after dark should wrap up and be visible.
Sunday: Patchy drizzle in the morning, otherwise dry with sunny spells.
No weather warnings were in place for the weekend when The Irish Times published the forecast on Friday morning.
What November has in store
Met Éireann’s extended outlook suggests high pressure will keep the first week of November more settled and drier than average across the country. Confidence is lower for the second week, when rainfall may be slightly above average in the southern half of the country but drier than average on the north and west coasts. By the third week, the signal is for unsettled spells of wet and windy weather, with wetter than average conditions nationwide.
Gardaí and fire chiefs: leave the fireworks alone
The good weather comes with a warning. Emergency services have again urged the public not to buy or use illegal fireworks. Dublin Fire Brigade’s chief fire officer Greg O’Dwyer told RTÉ earlier this month that fireworks are “totally unpredictable”, describing injuries including the loss of eyes and fingers and serious burns, and fires in people’s homes. He said fireworks can go off unexpectedly from friction or movement alone, including in someone’s hand or pocket.
Selling or possessing fireworks without a licence is illegal in Ireland, and throwing a lit firework at a person or property is a criminal offence. Gardaí say the penalties include heavy fines and possible prison sentences. In Clare, gardaí, the fire service, the National Ambulance Service and the county council are running a joint operation, Operation Tombola, targeting anti-social behaviour and illegal fireworks over the Halloween period.
Simple safety tips for the night
- Young children going trick-or-treating should be accompanied by an adult.
- Stick to well-lit areas and make sure costumes are visible to traffic; a torch or reflective strip helps, especially if mist develops late in the evening.
- Be considerate: not every household takes part in Halloween.
- Report illegal bonfires, dumping or fireworks sales to your local Garda station or the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111.
What happens next
Met Éireann will update its forecast through the weekend, so check the latest before heading out on Saturday evening, particularly in western counties where rain may hang around longer. Gardaí are expected to keep up patrols around known bonfire and fireworks hotspots through the weekend.
Sources
- The Irish Times: Halloween weather to be mostly dry and bright, says Met Éireann (30 October 2026)
- RTÉ: ‘Totally unpredictable’: Public urged to avoid illegal fireworks (5 October 2026)
- The Clare Herald: Agencies issue safety advice ahead of Halloween (29 October 2026)
Featured image: photo by Alexis Hunter on Unsplash.
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