Púca Festival returns to Co. Meath from Friday 28 to Monday 31 October.

Myth and mischief for Púca’s closing ceremony!

A festival that aims to celebrate Ireland as the birthplace of Halloween recently announced a spectacular closing event that involves an ancient fire ceremony.

Púca Festival’s local launch revealed details of the closing ceremony, as well as a significant addition of free events that joins the already multi-talented and varied festival programme.

Returning to Co. Meath from Friday 28 to Monday 31 October across the festival hubs of Trim and Athboy, Púca is an immersive and otherworldly festival that has been developed by Fáilte Ireland, in partnership with Meath County Council.

The fire lighting ceremony at Tlachtga, Athboy on 31 October will be followed by a procession to the festival’s finale, a spectacular fire and musical celebration at the Fair Green in Athboy.

The Samhain Fires closing ceremony will begin with an intimate fire lighting ceremony at Tlachtga (the Hill of Ward), paying tribute to traditional Samhain rituals. This limited-ticketed ceremony will include live music from Sibéal Ní Chasaide. Sibéal is one of Ireland's foremost sean-nós singers.

Replicating the traditions of the earliest Samhain celebrations, the embers from the fire lit at Tlachtga will be carried to ignite the final festival fire at the Fair Green. Once the new fire is burning, the celebrations in the Fair Green will ensue with a Morrigan-inspired fire performance alongside the rhythmic beat of the Hit Machine drummers. The Samhain Fires finale will close with the brilliant Kíla.

Free events

The closing ceremony is one of many free of charge ticketed events as part of the festival programme. The Boann Stage at the Stretch Tent in Trim, positioned beside the Jack O‘Lanterns Harvest Food & Craft Market will host further free events, including the official Púca Halloween Choir, Gluais and indie folk four-piece Seo Linn on Friday 28 October.

On the Saturday, the stage will host the céilí workshop with the enigmatic Irish Music Ensemble, followed by the inimitable Sharon Shannon, and on the Sunday, Guth na nGael performing the best of traditional Irish music and sean nós singing.

These additional events join the already announced exciting programme including Imelda May, Gavin James, The Academic, King Kong Company, Block Rockin’ Beats, HamsandwicH, Lisa Hannigan & Cathy Davey, The Jerry Fish Electric Sideshow Cabaret, Blindboy, Joanne McNally, Neil Delamere, David O’Doherty, Jason Byrne and much more.

Working in partnership with Irish artists, seanchaí storytellers, and the local community, Púca will showcase the best in contemporary Irish music, spectacle, and performance.

Ciara Sugrue, Head of Festivals, Fáilte Ireland added: “Festivals are crucial to the tourism sector, motivating over 200,000 overseas visitors to come to Ireland and contributing €108m to the economy every year. Fáilte Ireland is committed to developing Púca Festival into a world-class festival that positions Ireland as the home of Halloween internationally over the next number of years. We are excited to see the festival come to life this October.”

Paula Lawler, Programme Director for Púca Festival commented: “I am thrilled to announce details of Samhain Fires - a very special closing ceremony for Púca Festival, taking place on sacred ground at The Hill of Ward, a traditional site of Samhain gathering and hugely significant to Ireland’s claim as the birthplace of Halloween.”

Have a look at the exciting new programme and book tickets to concerts and events across the two festival hubs at pucafestival.com.