Gavin James, Imelda May and The Academic are among a host of big names headlining this year’s Púca Festival, which organisers have described as “bigger and better” after years of Covid disruption.
he Halloween festival – due to take place in Athboy and Trim, Co Meath, from October 28-31 – was launched yesterday at Dublin Castle.
The four nights of music, fire, myth and mischief are set to feature live acts, fire shows, comedy performances and much more.
The Arrival of Spirits Samhain Procession will kick off the festival in spooky fashion as it weaves through the streets of Trim and makes its way to Trim Castle, where the Jack O’Lantern Harvest Festival will be held.
This illuminated procession will be accompanied by music, fire, and performances – with spectators invited to share in the celebration by creating their own costumes.
Other performers include Blindboy, Joanne McNally, Neil Delamere, David O’Doherty and Jason Byrne.
The festival has not been celebrated since its inception in 2019 due to Covid restrictions.
“It is great to have the Púca at full capacity back again, an amazing celebration of everything that is Irish because even though Halloween is of course celebrated globally, some people forget, at home and abroad, that its origins are here in Ireland,” said Tourism Minister Catherine Martin.
“It is bigger and better, and like many of our other festivals that are happening in these few weeks, from the Fringe Festival to the Dublin Theatre Festival to our Culture Night, everything is coming back bigger and better. So, it is a sign of renewal and rebirth for our arts community.”
The festival is set to draw tourists during the off-peak season.
“From a sustainable tourism point of view, it is driving the tourists both domestic and international into our regions. It is good for employment; it is good for our communities – and that is where our focus is as we develop a new national tourism policy with sustainability at its heart,” Ms Martin said.
“The tourism and hospitality industry is of critical importance to the national economy. And I believe that the Púca festival has the potential to motivate thousands of overseas visitors to come to Ireland at an off-peak time of the year and generate revenue for the local region.
“I am committed to invest in compelling reasons to choose Ireland as a destination. And the development of this festival is a great example of this.”
The festival is set to tell the origin story of Samhain, or ‘summer’s end’, through traditional seanchaí storytellers and contemporary Irish music.
