In the center of Dublin, chaos ensued due to a massive gathering caused by false information about a non-existent parade. Hundreds of people flocked to O’Connell Street after a misleading announcement on the website My Spirit Halloween claimed there would be a grandiose parade by macnas from seven to nine in the evening. The announcement detailed a festive procession starting from Parnell Street and ending at the popular Cathedral of Kraistcherch.
The situation quickly spiraled into confusion as the streets were filled with citizens, causing trouble for bus and tram drivers who had to navigate through the crowd. With no law enforcement or event organizers present, people realized they had fallen victim to a large-scale hoax. Pictures of the incident were shared by users on X.
The Irish police had to step in to manage the situation, urging the crowd to disperse through social media and confirming that there was no planned parade. It was later discovered that the Macnas theater company from Goreue had previously organized Halloween processions in the city center, but had no such plans for this year.
The elaborate hoax was orchestrated by creators of a fake website, possibly generated using artificial intelligence, promising the townspeople a visually appealing and festive event. While serious incidents were avoided, public transport services in the city center were significantly disrupted. The incident raised concerns among authorities, highlighting how easily misinformation, fueled by modern technology, can attract a large crowd to a single location.