A company based in Pakistan mistakenly advertised a non-existent Halloween parade in Dublin, Ireland, leading to a large crowd gathering in anticipation of the event.

The error was flagged after thousands arrived on O'Connell Street on October 31st, expecting a parade featuring giant Halloween puppets by the Galway theatre group Macnas.

The incident was widely shared on social media, with filmmaker Bertie Brosnan tweeting about the unexpected gathering.

Dublin police had to disperse the crowds when it became clear that no parade was scheduled.

The misinformation originated from the website My Spirit Halloween, which incorrectly listed the event due to a 'human mistake' – specifically, copying information from the previous year's event.

Nazir Ali, the person behind the site, publicly apologized, admitting the mistake and expressing embarrassment over the misunderstanding.

The incident highlights issues with misinformation and the ease with which false information can spread online.

Discussions ensued about the broader implications of such errors in the digital age, including possible uses of AI technology in generating misleading content.