Dubliners were left baffled last night after hundreds of people gathered in the city center for a parade that turned out not to exist.
Crowds of Halloween revelers flocked to Dublin city center in search of a parade on Thursday night, after a website published a post claiming there would be a spectacle in the capital.
The city was plunged into chaos when hundreds of people filled the streets after seeing a post on the My Spirit Halloween website, which falsely advertised a Macnas Halloween parade on O’Connell Street from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 a.m. p.m
According to the IndependentThe rumor was produced by an AI-generated website based in Pakistan, which now appears to have disappeared from Google.
Publishing news about the parade, the AI website stated that the parade would start on Parnell Street, pass through O’Connell Street and end at Christchurch Cathedral.
Dubliners were left baffled last night after Halloween punters gathered in the city center for a parade that turned out not to exist.
The city descended into chaos as hundreds filled the streets after seeing a My Spirit Halloween website falsely advertising a Macnas Halloween parade from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Photos and clips on social media revealed a sea of people lining O’Connell Street, but no parade ever arrived.
An eyewitness recounted the parade of deception Dublin live: “The bus drivers were going crazy with all the people on the road.”
‘The Gardai announced that there was no Halloween parade. There were people everywhere and bus and tram drivers went crazy honking non-stop to get through.’
Peter Farrelly, a spectator from the window of a nearby building, revealed swaths of hopeful people gathering in the streets.
Peter told The Independent: ‘It was fun. We’re still smiling now. It took people about an hour from the start time.
‘Gardaí were trying to clear the street. Last night was also the Diwali festival, so there were also a lot of people on the street.
Another video showed roads packed with people, as local buses struggled to make their way through the crowds.
Social media posts revealed a sea of people lining O’Connell Street, but no parade ever arrived.
Gardai took to Facebook to dispel rumors about the city’s parade, writing: “Please note that contrary to information circulating online, no Halloween parade is scheduled in Dublin city center this afternoon or tonight.”
‘All those currently gathered on O’Connell Street, awaiting such a parade, are asked to disperse safely.
“If you need our help or assistance we will be canvassing O’Connell Street and the surrounding area throughout this afternoon and evening – please do not hesitate to stop and speak to us.”
Sinn Fein councilor Janice Boylan commented on the event saying: “It appears to be an online scam.” It’s really sad to see people being scammed. Everyone is trying to have a fun and safe Halloween.
However, the company never announced that it would return to Dublin this year, despite rumors circulating on Facebook.
“Having a parade to attend sounded really good. I know a lot of people showed up. “It’s a terrible shame that there are people who are trying to scam people.”
Galway arts company Macnas has organized Halloween parades in previous years.
Last year, the company held two in Galway City and Dublin City: their first parades in four years after the Covid pandemic.
However, the company never announced that it would return to Dublin this year, despite rumors circulating online.
Amused social media users took to the comments to share their views on the strange spectacle.
One asked: ‘If everyone turned up surely it wasn’t in vain? Why didn’t they just show off?
A second ghost hunter wrote: “Maybe the Halloween parade did happen. Ghosts exist at wavelengths outside of human vision. It was probably an incredible parade before their eyes.
A third joked: “The Fools arrived early,” while another called it “the Irish version of the Fyre festival.”
