Festival goers and fans of folklore are in for a treat this Halloween as the Púca Festival returns to County Meath. Celebrating Ireland as the birthplace of Halloween, Púca is billed as an immersive and otherworldly festival, which will take place at the end of October.

Opening procession 2022

Working in partnership with Irish artists, seanchaí storytellers, and the local community Púca will showcase the best in contemporary Irish music, spectacle and performance over four days and five nights from Friday 27th to Tuesday 31st October 2023 in the historic towns of Trim and Athboy in Ireland’s Ancient East. 

Púca Festival has been developed by Fáilte Ireland (the National Tourism Development Authority of Ireland), in partnership with Meath County Council, to celebrate Ireland as the birthplace of Halloween and to tell the origin story of Samhain or ‘Summer’s End’. 

Opening procession 2022

In Irish and Celtic traditions Samhain was a time of celebration, involving lighting fires, feasting on the crops of the harvest, music, gathering, and storytelling. A familiar character in Ireland’s narrative of Halloween, Púca (pronounced poo-kuh) is a shape-shifting character from Celtic folklore that comes alive at ancient new year to roam the night and change the fortunes of those that cross it.  

Púca will comprise four days and five nights of music, myth, food, folklore, fire, feasting and merriment in the country where Halloween began, with a range of events on offer. In addition to the traditional ceremonies, celebrations, and offerings across Trim and Athboy, the Púca’s reputation for mischief and entertainment will be brought to life with high profile contemporary acts in music, comedy and performance.

Opening procession 2022

Officially kicking off the festival, the opening procession will take place in Trim on Saturday 28th October. This magical procession will blend outdoor theatre, street performance and music in a wild celebration of  Samhain lore, nature, ancestry and the looming months of darkness. 

As the sun sets and the ceremonial fire is lit on Tuesday 31st October, visitors will gather at the Fair Green in Athboy to view the closing ceremony An Lasadh Suas (to light up): a symbolic event connecting the landscapes of Tlachtga, Tara, Loughcrew, Tailteann and Uisneach, to a central Púca flame, laden with messages to the ancestors. As the flames ignite, the stage will be set and a night of music and celebration will ensue.

Pyro Collective, Púca Festival 2022

Music acts will perform in venues across Trim and Athboy and the line-up includes The Charlatans, The Waterboys, Damien Dempsey, Macy Gray, Hot House Flowers, Sharon Shannon, Jack Lukeman, Mack Fleetwood and The High Kings.

A range of events involving immersive games, storytelling, workshops and talks will take visitors on a spirited journey through time in Ireland’s Ancient East. With tales of Irish folklore, Aindrias de Staic will perform his show of stories and music By the Light of the Silvery Moon, and Candlelit Tales will captivate audiences with their tales of myth and magic. 

Candlelit Tales

As Samhain historically marked the end of the harvest season, Púca festival will also embrace the local produce of the Boyne Valley. Visitors can expect to indulge in traditional barm brack, colcannon and baked apples as they immerse themselves in the local offerings at the Harvest Market.

Púca Festival was devised to encourage more international visitors to visit Ireland during October and November, and to encourage domestic visitors to explore different regions of Ireland.

Cartoon Saloon, Púca Festival 2022

Orla Carroll, Director of Product Development at Fáilte Ireland, said: “Fáilte Ireland is pleased to announce the return of Púca Festival this October which celebrates Ireland as the birthplace of Halloween. Meath and the wider Ireland’s Ancient East region have so much to offer, and Púca celebrates this region’s unique heritage and culture while offering a fantastic visitor experience.”

If you or your group would like to enjoy a tailor-made tour of Ireland at Halloween, enjoying the Púca Festival and some of the other Samhain celebrations taking place across the country, please do contact our friendly team today.

All photos courtesy of Púca Festival.