People are expected to brave one of Ireland's scariest homes this Halloween - created by a man who is afraid of the dark.
Visitors to Ken Carraher’s garden in Killiney Hill Road, Co Dublin will test their nerves to the limit when they come face-to-face with zombies, ghouls, a ghastly cemetery and an eight-foot fire-breathing dragon.
But Ken's house of horrors is all for a frightfully good cause.
The ESB employee has been turning his garden into a spookfest for 23 years - 13 of those to raise money for charity Debra Ireland.
The organisation supports 300 people in Ireland with EB (epidermolysis bullosa), a rare and extremely painful genetic condition which causes the skin to blister and wound at the slightest touch.
Ken said: "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.
"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."
Starting with just two mannequins 23 years ago, Ken has since invested thousands of euro in props, lighting and treats - a Halloween scare-fest he says his wife Gail has grown to accept.
"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 Bayview Court, Killiney Hill Road, Killiney, Dublin. Public opening hours: 4-8pm this Friday, Saturday and Sunday; 4-9pm Monday (Halloween night).
