Culture
30 Jul 19

Fáilte Ireland announce Púca, a brand new festival celebrating Halloween in Athboy, Drogheda and Trim

Lisa O'Neill, David Keenan, Pillow Queens and Jerry Fish are all set to perform at the inaugural year of the Halloween festival.

Fáilte Ireland have announced their brand new three-day Halloween festival, Púca. Set to take place in Athboy, Drogheda and Trim from October 31 to November 2, the otherworldly festival celebrates Ireland as the original birthplace of Halloween, with spectacles, stunning projections, food, and music from the likes of Lisa O'Neill, David Keenan, Pillow Queens and Jerry Fish.

Developed by Fáilte Ireland in partnership with Meath and Louth County Councils, the festival aims to claim ownership of this internationally celebrated event and to tell the story of Halloween’s origins in Irish and Celtic traditions.

The Coming of Samhain at Athboy will kick start the festival on October 31, with a recreation of the symbolic lighting of the Samhain fires in the shadow of The Hill of Ward.

In Trim, meanwhile, the Púca Festival opens on October 31 with a spectacular series of immersive promenade events and the Samhain Procession. The grounds at Trim Castle come to life each night of the festival with a host of illuminations and interactive interventions - from aerialists and Púca performers to castle projections to laser shows. The Púca Food and Craft Market will also showcase local producers in the grounds of Trim Castle. By night, the castle will play host to a world-class selection of musicians, including Jerry Fish's Púca Sideshow (October 31); Just Mustard, Pillow Queens and AE MAK (November 1); Kormac and the Irish Chamber Orchestra (November 2).

In Drogheda, a unique re-telling of the Irish epic, Táin Bó Cualigne, by Candlelit Tales will kick of the celebrations. A special screening of Benjamin Christensen’s legendary silent horror Häxan [The Witches] will take place at Droichead Arts Centre on November 1, with a new score from Dublin-based musician Matthew Nolan. Crescent Concert Hall will see performances by David Keenan with Sive (November 1) and Lisa O'Neill (November 2). Over the three nights, Drogheda will also play host to de:LUX - music and light installations which draw inspiration from tales of Irish folklore and the spirits of Halloween.

Tickets for Púca are on sale now. See pucafestival.com for more information.