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Irish Mirror
Irish Mirror
National
Danny De Vaal

Irish electrician afraid of the dark transforms home into haunted house for Halloween

An electrician who is afraid of the dark is set to terrify thousands after transforming his home into a haunted house with zombies, ghouls, a cemetery, and an 8ft fire-breathing dragon.

Dubliner Ken Carragher has been scaring punters for the last 23 years at his pad on Killiney Hill Road but for the last 13 of those he has been supporting the charity Debra.

The organisation supports 300 people in Ireland with epidermolysis bullosa, a rare and extremely painful genetic condition that causes the skin to blister and wound at the slightest touch.

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Ken, who hopes to raise €10,000 this weekend, said he expects between 4,000 and 5,000 people to pass through his haunted house on Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday.

The ESB worker said: “We have a marquee in the garden and attractions out the front of the house as well.

“A few years ago, I asked my daughter Aoife and her friends to pick out a charity and they came across children with the ‘Butterfly Skin’ condition, so since then, we’ve raised around €50,000 for Debra Ireland.

“It is a fantastic charity, when I began to learn more and meet the patients who have this truly awful condition, I wanted to do something to help.

Bobby Harrington, 10, (left), and Dax Long, 11, at Ken Carragher’s Halloween house in Killiney, Dublin (Gareth Chaney/ Collins Photo Agency)
Ken Carragher and his wife Gail at their Halloween house in Killiney, Dublin (Gareth Chaney/ Collins Photo Agency)

“The Halloween garden is about community and a bit of craic and it is good that we are doing it during EB Awareness Week this week.”

Ken, who said entry is free hopes people will make a donation, has invested thousands over the years on props, lighting and treats.

He also said his wife isn’t the biggest fan of the haunted house but has come to accept it.

Ken Carraher turns his garden in Dublin's Killiney into a huge Halloween experience every year to raise money for DEBRA Ireland (Gareth Chaney/ Collins Photo Agency)
Ken Carragher turns his garden in Dublin's Killiney into a huge Halloween experience (Gareth Chaney/ Collins Photo Agency)

Ken explained: “She’s not normally fond of it but she’s mellowing! On the other hand, I am petrified of the dark, scary movies and ghost stories.

“We live right beside the beach and anytime I’m out walking at night, I bring two torches.”

Ken’s Halloween House is at Number 5 Bayview Court, Killiney Hill Road, Killiney, Dublin. Public opening hours: 4-8pm this Friday, Saturday and Sunday; 4-9pm Monday (Halloween night).

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