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SPIRITS OF MEATH FESTIVAL: Meath claims Halloween started on the Hill of Ward near Athboy more than 2,000 years ago and the county has now built a week-long festival around it.

The Spirits of Meath began yesterday and goes on until October 31st, and during the week there are several themed activities, some you pay for, some are free and all are ideal for whiling away some of the mid-term break, including:

ENROL INthe witch school at Grove Open Farm Gardens, Fordstown, Kells on Monday, October 25th, 2pm-5pm. Mix magic potions, follow the witches' trail and play trick or treat. Tel: 046-9434276 or hauntedspooktacular.com.

SPOOKS & SPELLSat Causey Farm, Fordstown, Kells, Co Meath from October 27th until Friday, October 29th. Starts 4pm.

A two-hour show taking the audience around eight venues in Causey Farm.

Ride a broomstick; learn a spell; walk the dark path through the “Valley of the Undead”; Samhain fire performance; hear how the ancient Celtic Festival of Samhain started in Co Meath.

Dress warmly and wear wellies – costumes optional. Suitable for families with children aged five to 12.

Cost: €13 per person.

Tel: 046-9434135 or causey.ie.

THE BESTevent of all should be the traditional torchlit procession to Hill of Ward on Sunday, October 31st. It was there that Halloween started when the druids extinguished the old fires and after sunset lit the New Year Samhain fire.

Torches were lit from this sacred fire and carried to seven other hills around the county, including Tara and Loughcrew, and then on to light up the whole countryside.

Gather at the Fair Green at Athboy at 7pm and bring a torch. Cost: free.