Púca Festival Returns for 2025: A Celebration of Samhain’s Ancient Roots

MPI Artists are delighted to present the return of Púca Festival for its fourth year, in collaboration with Fáilte Ireland and Meath County Council. 

As Festival Directors since its inception, MPI Artists is proud to continue shaping this world class celebration of Ireland’s ancient Samhain traditions, reimagined through music, storytelling, spectacle and community.

Rooted deeply in Irish heritage, Púca Festival invites visitors from near and far to experience Halloween where it all began, in the heart of Ireland’s Ancient East. From 30th October to 2nd November 2025, the towns of Trim and Athboy in County Meath will come alive with light, fire, folklore, and mischief for what promises to be the festival’s most ambitious year yet.

PÚCA FESTIVAL ANNOUNCES SPECTACULAR 2025 RETURN, INVITING VISITORS TO CONNECT WITH HALLOWEEN'S ANCIENT ROOTS IN CO. MEATH*

Iconic Festival Celebrating Ireland as the birthplace of Halloween Returns to Co. Meath from

30th OCTOBER – 2nd NOVEMBER 2025

Experience Spectacle and Storytelling, Music and Mischief, Comedy, Feasting & Much More

·         Trim and Athboy to play host to visitors as the 2025 Púca Festival hubs

·         All new theme revealed: Connecting with Our Roots - a celebration of our ancestral ties to the land and spirit of Samhain

·         Headline acts to be announced July 7th, with tickets on sale from Friday, July 11th at 10am. Visit www.pucafestival.com

This Halloween, folklore enthusiasts and festivalgoers can look forward to the highly anticipated return of the Púca Festival to Co. Meath. Developed by Fáilte Ireland in partnership with Meath County Council, 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, Púca will take place in festival hubs Trim and Athboy in County Meath, from Thursday 30th October to Sunday 2nd November 2025.

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.

Unveiled at the Púca Festival national launch in Dubh Linn Gardens, this year’s theme is embodied in a striking new character, a living tribute to disguise in nature. Designed by Irish artist Stephanie Z Johnson, the handcrafted costume is made from locally sourced, sustainable materials including Irish wool, recycled yarn and natural dyes. ‘Roots’ honours our bond with the land while reflecting Púca Festival’s commitment to creativity and sustainability. 

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.

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.

The Púca Festival was devised to encourage more international visitors to visit Ireland during October and November, and to encourage domestic visitors to explore different regions of Ireland, outside of the traditional tourism hotspots.

Martin Nolan, Púca Festival Director and Founder of MPI Artists said: “Every year, we see how deeply the Púca Festival resonates with people, not just for its spectacle, but for the sense of meaning it brings and the connection to our ancestors. This year's theme speaks to the emotional pull of Samhain, the stories we’ve inherited, and the land beneath our feet. It’s exciting to bring this to life through music, storytelling, design and performance with a programme that honours tradition and embraces the new. This is our most ambitious year yet and we can’t wait to welcome audiences back to Trim and Athboy.” 

Ciara Sugrue, Head of Festivals and Events at Fáilte Ireland said: “Fáilte Ireland is pleased to announce the return of the Púca Festival, a world-class celebration that continues to grow every year. Rooted in Ireland’s legacy as the birthplace and home of Halloween, this year’s theme, ‘Connecting with Our Roots’, invites visitors to explore the origin story of Samhain and experience the deep connection between landscape, heritage, and living tradition. Festivals like Púca play a vital role in showcasing Ireland’s rich culture to both domestic and international audiences. They are also important drivers of tourism revenue across the country, particularly in areas that are outside of the traditional tourism hotspots. We look forward to working once again with Meath County Council and local tourism and hospitality businesses in Trim and Athboy to deliver another unforgettable festival experience in the heart of Ireland’s Ancient East."

Kieran Kehoe, Meath County Council, Chief Executive added: “Meath County Council is delighted to be working closely with Fáilte Ireland again on the internationally renowned Púca Festival. As the global birthplace of Halloween, County Meath holds a special place in the story of Samhain, and this festival is a powerful way to honour and celebrate that heritage. It’s a unique opportunity to showcase our county’s rich folklore, creativity, and community spirit. We look forward to welcoming visitors to experience the magic of Púca and the origins of Halloween in Meath with a varied programme of events and experiences, through the lenses of mythology, music, food, and folklore.”

PÚCA FESTIVAL HUBS 2025

This year’s festival hubs are Athboy and Trim, both steeped in Samhain legend and tradition.

Trim, Co. Meath

Four supernatural nights of music, comedy and Halloween spectacle will take place in the heritage town of Trim against the backdrop of its stunning castle grounds, including the The Púca Procession: The Gathering of the Spirits on Saturday 1st November, a festival highlight not-to-be-missed. 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

The Púca Festival town of 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, there are plans to add a number of Púca Bus services to bring visitors from Dublin, Drogheda, Navan, Cavan, Kildare, Mullingar and Kells, in addition to a regular shuttle bus running between Trim and Athboy. Tickets will go on sale July 4th.

PÚCA PROGRAMME HIGHLIGHTS

Púca will comprise four breath-taking days and four nights of music, myth, food, folklore, fire, feasting and merriment in the country where Halloween began, with a range of events on offer. In addition to the traditional ceremonies, celebrations, and offerings across Trim and Athboy, the Púca’s proclivity for mischief and entertainment will be brought to life with high profile contemporary acts in music, comedy, and performance.

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 barm brack, 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, casting a lasting spell on all the senses.

New for 2025, on Halloween night, the Púca Festival Samhain Banquet at the Darnley Lodge Hotel will offer a special opportunity to gather and feast with warmth, music and tradition at the heart of the evening.

Myth & Mischief

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.

Púca Festival line up is set to be revealed over the coming weeks, and festivalgoers are advised to keep an eye on www.pucafestival.com for news and tickets. 

*Subject to license. 

Fáilte Ireland

Fáilte Ireland’s role is to support the long-term sustainable growth in the economic, social, cultural, and environmental contribution of tourism to Ireland. Tourism is of critical importance to the national economy and to regional development and employment. Pre-coronavirus, the sector generated revenue of €7.5billion annually and supported 260,000 jobs nationwide while contributing €1.7billion to the Exchequer.   We work in partnership with Government, State agencies, Local Authorities, representative groups and industry, to develop tourism across Ireland by creating destination development plans and networks, investing in infrastructure, activities, visitor attractions and festivals.  Fáilte Ireland also provides consumer and buyer insights, mentoring, business supports and training programmes and buyer platforms to help tourism businesses innovate and grow.   

In addition, Fáilte Ireland supports Business Tourism, managing the bidding for and securing of larger conferences, meetings and events to be hosted in Ireland.  

We are also responsible for domestic holiday marketing across four regional experience brands: Wild Atlantic Way, Ireland’s Ancient East, Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands and Dublin.     

Fáilte Ireland, the National Tourism Development Authority, was established in 2003 to guide and promote tourism as a leading indigenous component of the Irish economy. www.failteireland.ie 

The meaning of Púca

At ancient new year when light turns to dark, the veil between realities draws thin, rules can be broken, and the spirits move between worlds. Púca comes alive, a shape-shifting spirit, roaming the night and changing the fortunes of those that cross her. Púca immerses you in the true spirit of Halloween transforming the night into a playground.

Púca Festival Overview:    

Púca is an authentic, immersive, spectacular, and otherworldly festival, celebrating Ireland as the original birthplace of Halloween. Working in partnership with Irish artists, seanchaí storytellers, and the local community Púca will showcase the best in contemporary Irish music, spectacle, and performance, over four spectacular days and nights full of music, myth, food, folklore, fire, feasting, and merriment in the country where Halloween began. Vibrant, fun, and contemporary in feel but strongly rooted in tradition, Púca will take place in festival hubs Trim and Athboy in County Meath, from Thursday, 30th October to Sunday, 2nd November 2025. ( Subject to License)

Púca Festival has been developed by Fáilte Ireland (the National Tourism Development Authority of Ireland), in partnership with Meath County Council, to celebrate Ireland as the birthplace of Halloween and to tell 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.

The festival will reopen the pathways of reflection and celebration carved out by travelers over 2,000 years ago, capturing the original and authentic spirit of Samhain. Púca (pronounced poo-kuh) is a character from Celtic folklore, that comes alive; a shape-shifting spirit, roaming the night and changing the fortunes of those that cross them, at ancient new year when light turns to dark, the veil between realities draws thin, rules can be broken, and the spirits move between worlds.  

Trim, Co. Meath

Four supernatural nights of music, comedy and Halloween spectacle will take place in the heritage town of Trim and its stunning castle grounds. 

Athboy, Co. Meath

The Púca Festival town of 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.

While Trim and Athboy are serviced by a strong public transport network, a number of extra services will be added to bring visitors from Dublin, Drogheda, Navan, Mullingar and Kells, in addition to a regular bus running between Trim and Athboy.