Hundreds turn out for Dublin Halloween parade that didn't exist

Dubliners were left baffled last night after hundreds of gathered in the city centre for a parade that turned out not to exist. 

Crowds of Halloween revellers flocked to Dublin city centre in search of a parade on Thursday night, after a website made a post claiming there would be a spectacle in the capital.

The city was plunged into chaos as hundreds filled the streets after seeing a post on the website, My Spirit Halloween, which falsely advertised a Macnas Halloween Parade on O'Connell Street from 7pm to 9pm.

According to The Independent, the rumour was produced by an AI-generated website based in Pakistan - which now appears to have disappeared from Google.

When posting news of the parade, the AI website claimed the parade would begin on Parnell Street, pass through O'Connell street and the end at Christchurch Cathedral.

Photos and clips on social media revealed a sea of people lining O'Connell street - but no parade ever arrived. 

An eyewitness as the hoax parade 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.'

Peter Farrelly, an onlooker from the window of a nearby building revealed swathes of hopeful people gathering swilling the streets.

Peter told The Independent: 'It was funny. We are still smiling now. It took about an hour from the start time for people

'The Gardaí were trying to clear the street. It was also the festival of Diwali last night so a lot of people were out on the street as well.'

Another clip showed the roads teeming with people, as local busses struggled to make their way through the crowds.

Taking to Facebook to dispel rumours of the city parade, the Gardai wrote on Facebook: '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.' 

Sinn Fein councillor Janice Boylan commented on the event saying: '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 that there is people out there that are trying to scam people.' 

The Galway arts company, Macnas, have hosted Halloween parades in previous years.

Last year, the company held two in Galway city and Dublin city - their first parades in four years following the Covid pandemic.

However, the company never announced they would be returning to Dublin this year, despite rumours circulating online. 

Amused social media users took to the comments to share their views on the strange spectacle. 

One asked: 'If they all showed up surely it wasn't for nothing? Why didn't they just parade themselves?'

A second spook seeker wrote: 'Maybe the Halloween parade did happen. Ghosts exist on wavelengths outside human vision. It was probably a hell of a parade right before their eyes.' 

A third joked: 'April fools came early' while another called it 'Ireland's version of Fyre festival'.