Galway's Macnas street performance company have a newt kid in town for Halloween.
Alf is 20 metres long and 5 metres high with his own in-built lighting, soundtrack and special effects.
He has been an eye-catching spectacle on the streets of Galway this weekend and he comes with a timely message on climate change.
Richard Babington, Creative Director of this year's Halloween show said: "Alf is big and the message is big. Turas Alf/Alf's Journey explores big scientific concepts in a big spectacular way.
"After being displaced from his beautiful woodland home by human development and climate change, we are inviting the community of Galway to welcome a weary traveller who is feeling the effects of human development and climate change and needs somewhere safe to call home."
Alf the giant newt has been making his way from the Quadrangle in University of Galway, past Galway Cathedral and around the city before resting up in Eyre Square.
Johnny O'Reilly, CEO of Macnas, said: "Macnas is famed for its spectacular parades and giant spectacles and the mechanical creations can take months to build.
"Work on Alf the Newt began last summer and it's especially gratifying to see families interact and spend time with him. It's a move away from the Halloween parade where creatures can pass by very quickly.
"We run an outreach programme for kids and we have left suitcases strewn around for them to leave letters and poems for Alf."
The Bank Holiday weekend event also sees pop-up performances from the Macnas Youth Theatre along with drummers and brass, a stilt ensemble and fire performers.
Alf is an amphibious creature and he will complete his journey to his new home at the Swamp in the Claddagh tonight.
He will be making journeys further afield shortly including a visit to Dublin in November
