Photo Credit (Pixeles)
Following internet hoaxes, hundreds flocked to the Irish capital for the purported march. The crowd had to be dispersed by the police.
THE HIGHEST GRADE AVAILABLE Artur Martins distributed this photo of Dublin residents waiting for a Halloween parade that never happened. On Halloween night, crowds gathered on O’Connell Street at 7 o’clock in the evening as rumours circulated online about a supposed spectacular. The Gardai issued a plea to evacuate via social networking site X just before 8 o’clock in the evening.
There was no Halloween parade, yet a huge number of people were tricked into lining the streets of Dublin nonetheless.
The Irish capital’s streets were lined with spectators on Thursday night, waiting to see the supposed procession, until word got out that it had never been planned.
It followed the announcement on a website that a procession would be starting at 7 o’clock that evening in the city. As far as anyone can tell, the rumors went viral on social media platforms like TikTok.
After requesting that everyone in the neighborhood vacate the premises, Irish police later dispersed the gathering.
“Please be advised that no Halloween parade is scheduled to take place in Dublin City Centre this evening or tonight,” read a statement on X from the Gardai.
“All those gathered on O’Connell Street in expectation of such a parade are asked to disperse safely.”
A “ghost parade” was the online pun that commentators used to describe the gathering.
“Hundreds” showed up, according to Irish politician Gary Gannon, who also noted that this demonstrated “an appetite in Dublin for a well-organised annual Halloween parade.”.
An other X user said: “This is just Halloween; now think of how many people are fed with misinformation online on other issues.”
The “hoax” didn’t seem to deter many attendees, who seemed to find humor in the situation.
Says his daughter was there, describing it as “the best atmosphere,” according to a social media user.
“[She] said it was great fun and so friendly,” according to him.
In 2023, the Galway arts firm Macnas staged a Halloween parade in Dublin; however, they have no intention of doing it again this year.
