About Púca
Púca celebrates Ireland as the birthplace of Halloween with an authentic, immersive, and otherworldly festival. Vibrant, fun, and contemporary in feel but strongly rooted in tradition, Working in partnership with Irish artists, seanchaí storytellers, and the local community the Púca Festival will showcase the best in contemporary Irish music, spectacle, and performance over four days and nights in Ireland’s Ancient East, breathing life into old traditions and forging new connections to our roots through performance, craft and culture. This immersive festival brings ancient traditions to life through music, fire, stories and mischief in the historic towns of Athboy and Trim, where Halloween began over 2,000 years ago.
Origins
The Púca Festival tells the origin story of Samhain or ‘Summer’s End’. In Irish and Celtic traditions Samhain is the end of the harvest season, when all the crops have been picked and stored for the ‘New Year’. This was historically 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.
What is a Púca?
A Púca is a legendary creature known for its ability to shapeshift into various forms, often appearing as a horse, goat or dark shadowy figure. Mischievous yet wise, the Púca can bring both blessings and tricks, embodying the mystical energy that defines Halloween in Irish folklore.
Featured Events
The Gathering of the Spirits
Step into a world of breathtaking performance as shapeshifting spirits roam the streets of Trim in a powerful celebration of folklore, nature and ancestry. When darkness falls, the beating drums, music and spectacle of fire bring Samhain to life, as the Púca Procession takes us on an otherworldly journey. An unmissable experience!
Free Event
Come Alive in the Dark
A Halloween night like no other! As the sun sets, Samhain takes over when the veil between worlds thins. An exciting and powerful Púca Festival event, with fire performers, stories, celebration and connection to sacred sites. Let the music, dance and mischief take over as we light the ancestral Samhain flame and honour those who have passed before us.
Free Event
