An Immersive Festival in County Meath Celebrating Ireland as the Authentic Home of Halloween 

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Bringing together the best Irish and Celtic musicians, comedians, fire performers, artists, storytellers, aerialists, and crafters. Púca (pronounced poo-kah) Festival seamlessly mixes old and new traditions in a spectacular celebration of Samhain (Halloween) at its rightful home in the Boyne Valley, Co. Meath, less than an hour’s drive from Dublin. Within this ancient landscape, the festival reignites the spirit of Samhain across two key sites, the heritage town of Trim and the ancient Hill of Ward, also known as Tlachtga (pronounced Clackda) in rural Athboy, where Ireland’s ancestors marked the end of the summer harvest and the arrival of winter more than 2,000 years ago.  

Key highlights include:

❖ Live Music & Comedy | 4 days of concerts & events| from traditional to contemporary, immerse yourself in the live experience.

❖ Lighting of the Samhain Fire – Oct 31st| Visitors will gather at the Fair Green in Athboy to join the Lighting of the Samhain Fire ceremony to honour their ancestors with live music and fire performances.

❖ The Púca Procession – Nov 1st | The Gathering of the Spirits with new Grandstand Seating. An authentic Procession that blends outdoor theatre, street performance and music in a wild celebration of Samhain lore, nature, ancestry, and the looming darkness through the streets of Trim.

❖ Fire & Spectacle| Enjoy high energy fire performances in the towns of Trim & Athboy. 

❖ Immersive Storytelling | Actors and performers breathing life back into myths and legends.

❖ Tours | Explore Trim & Athboy’s ancient history with local expert historians. 

❖ Harvest Market | Experience a Harvest Market of the best traditional stalls and craftspeople. 

❖ Food & Drink |Taste the best of Irish food and drink at the new Púca Festival Samhain Banquet, Harvest Market and throughout the towns of Trim and Athboy.

❖ Successful Sustainability Program |Púca Festival incorporates the United Nations

             Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into the festival and encourages a specific and                     

             readily recognisable set of targets. 

This Halloween, folklore enthusiasts, music lovers, and curious wanderers are invited to experience the return of the Púca Festival in County Meath, running from Thursday 30th October to Sunday 2nd November 2025.

Developed by Fáilte Ireland in partnership with Meath County Council, Púca celebrates Ireland as the birthplace of Halloween through a vibrant, immersive, and otherworldly four-day festival. Vibrant and contemporary in feel, Púca remains deeply rooted in the ancient traditions of Samhain, unfolding across the festival hubs of Trim and Athboy in the heart of Ireland’s Ancient East.

This year’s theme, Connecting with Our Roots, draws on the physical and emotional ties to the land and our ancestral past that brings together generations, from the future to the past, during Samhain as the curtain falls on Summer and the harvest season draws to a close.  As the veil thins between the living and the dead, the shape-shifting Púca comes alive in Ireland’s Ancient East, and we return to our roots: ancestral, cultural, and spiritual. 

Working in partnership with Irish artists, seanchaí storytellers, and the local community, Púca Festival 2025 will offer four unforgettable days and nights of music, myth, food, folklore, fire, feasting, and merriment. This year’s programme breathes new life into ancient traditions, traditions while forging fresh connections to our cultural and ancestral roots through performance, craft, and celebration. From traditional ceremonies and immersive storytelling to high-energy performances in music, comedy, and entertainment, Púca’s mischievous spirit will come alive through a vibrant line-up of acclaimed contemporary acts and captivating cultural experiences.

Confirmed acts so far include The 2 Johnnies, Block Rockin Beats, Gorve Armada, Blindboy, Kíla, Qween, The Dublin Gospel Choir, Moonlight: The Philip Lynott Enigma, Jason Byrne, Emma Doran, Young Hot Guys, and Davina Devine – with more performers to be revealed in the coming weeks.

Visitors to the festival can enjoy a wide range of performances and workshops that celebrate Irish myth, music, and heritage. Embark on an eerie journey with Beyond the Veil: The Púca Trail, a mystical walk, in search of otherworldly spirits. Experience the thrilling spectacle of the Samhain Circus, listen to traditional tales with Craicly Stories and Dubliner – The Luke Kelly Story or explore nature on the Foraging Tour and Heritage Tours of Tlachtga (the Hill of Ward). Each event is a chance to connect with Ireland’s rich culture and traditions in a fresh, exciting way.

Events will take place across a variety of venues in Trim and Athboy, with tickets on sale now from www.pucafestival.com.

Feasting

As Samhain historically marked the end of the harvest season, the Púca Festival embraces the enormous wealth and quality of the local produce on its doorstep in the Boyne Valley. Visitors can expect to indulge in traditional barmbrack, colcannon and baked apples as they immerse themselves in the local offerings at the Harvest Market, in what promises to be the most spirited Púca Festival to date, serving up a true feast for all the senses.

Myth & Mischief in Festival Hubs

Hosted in various locations in both Trim and Athboy daily will be various events involving immersive games, storytelling, workshops, talks and walks.  These immersive experiences will bring visitors on a spirited journey through time to experience the Home of Halloween in Ireland’s Ancient East. 

Trim, Co. Meath – The heritage town of Trim will host four nights of supernatural spectacle, music, and comedy, set against the stunning backdrop of Trim Castle, including the The Púca Procession: The Gathering of the Spirits on Saturday 1st November. This authentic procession will blend outdoor theatre, street performance and music in a wild celebration of Samhain lore, nature, ancestry, and the looming darkness. As part of the theme Connecting with Our Roots, the gathering will reflect Ireland’s deep connection to the land, ancestors, and stories passed down through time, a living tapestry of tradition and transformation. As light turns to darkness and the veil thins, so too will the visions of otherworldly, shape-shifting spirits on their journey through the original home of Halloween. 

Athboy, Co. Meath – Athboy is an important hub of Halloween tradition, with ancient manuscripts telling us that Tlachtga (pronounced Clackda) or The Hill of Ward was a site of great Samhain gathering. As the sun sets and the ceremonial fire is lit on Friday 31st October, visitors will gather at the Fair Green in Athboy to join the Lighting of the Samhain Fire to honour their ancestors. This symbolic event connects the landscapes of Tlachtga, Tara, Loughcrew, Tailteann and Uisneach, to a central Púca flame, laden with messages to our ancestors.  As the flames ignite, the stage will be set, and a night of music and celebration will ensue. The event sits at the heart of this year’s theme, Connecting with Our Roots, reigniting the ties between ancient rituals and reflection. 

While Trim and Athboy are serviced by a strong public transport network, Púca Festival Coaches will bring visitors from Dublin, Drogheda, Navan, Cavan, Kildare, Mullingar and Kells, in addition to a regular shuttle bus running between Trim and Athboy.

Festivalgoers are advised to keep an eye on www.pucafestival.com for news and tickets.  *Subject to license.