The Whistlin’ Donkeys, High Stool Prophets and Mark McCabe Join Púca Festival 2026

Púca Festival has announced another major addition to its 2026 programme, with The Whistlin’ Donkeys set to headline a huge Halloween night in Trim, joined by High Stool Prophets, Mark McCabe and special guest Janet Devlin.

Taking place across Trim and Athboy, County Meath, from 29 October to 1 November 2026, Púca Festival returns this autumn with four days of live music, comedy, spectacle, storytelling, heritage and experiences rooted in Ireland’s ancient Samhain traditions.

As Festival Directors of Púca Festival, MPI Artists is once again working alongside Fáilte Ireland and Meath County Council to deliver an ambitious programme that brings together leading Irish artists with the stories, customs and traditions that established Ireland as the authentic home of Halloween.

The latest announcement adds another major live music event to the festival calendar, taking place in the Púca Big Top in Trim on Saturday, 31 October.

A Huge Halloween Night in Trim

Hailing from County Tyrone, The Whistlin’ Donkeys will headline the evening with the high energy live performances that have earned the six piece band a rapidly growing audience in Ireland and overseas.

Blending traditional Irish folk with Celtic rock, The Whistlin’ Donkeys have toured extensively throughout Ireland, the UK, USA, Canada and Europe. Their live shows combine traditional influences with contemporary arrangements, big choruses and the kind of crowd participation that has become a hallmark of the band.

Joining them in the Púca Big Top are High Stool Prophets, one of Ireland’s busiest live acts. With their distinctive combination of folk, country and Irish music, the band have developed a strong following through performances filled with familiar songs, lively arrangements and plenty of audience participation.

The night will also welcome Mark McCabe, one of the most recognisable names in Irish dance music. Best known for the phenomenon that is Maniac 2000, McCabe will bring another dimension to the Halloween programme with classic dancefloor favourites and a set designed to keep the Púca Big Top moving.

Completing the line-up is special guest Janet Devlin, the Northern Irish singer songwriter who first came to national attention on The X Factor in 2011 and has since established her own career as a recording and touring artist.

Together, the four acts will create a Halloween night spanning Irish folk, rock, dance and singalong favourites, all under one roof in the heart of Trim.

Púca Festival 2026 Continues to Grow

The latest additions join an already impressive Púca Festival 2026 music and comedy line-up, including The Coronas, Róisín O, Hothouse Flowers, Jerry Fish, Qween and The Dublin Gospel Choir, John Colleary and Shane Daniel Byrne, with further announcements still to come.

Live entertainment forms one part of a much wider festival programme celebrating the traditions and folklore associated with Samhain.

Visitors can experience some of Púca Festival’s signature events, including the Púca Procession in Trim and the Lighting of the Samhain Fire in Athboy, alongside immersive experiences, circus, storytelling, heritage and food.

Beyond the Veil: The Púca Trail will take visitors into a world inspired by Ireland’s otherworldly folklore, while the spectacular Samhain Circus returns as part of the festival programme.

Traditional storytelling will once again have an important place at Púca through Craicly Stories, while visitors can discover more about the landscape and heritage of County Meath through Foraging Tours and Heritage Tours of Tlachtga, the Hill of Ward, one of the places most closely associated with the ancient celebration of Samhain.

New Experiences for 2026

Púca Festival also continues to expand its daytime programme in 2026.

The festival’s biggest ever Harvest Market will showcase local food, craft and produce, creating a lively gathering place for visitors throughout the weekend.

New this year is the Tree Mythology, Ogham & Woodturning Experience, exploring the folklore surrounding Ireland’s native trees, the ancient Ogham alphabet and the traditional skills of woodturning through live demonstration.

A dedicated programme of workshops will also explore the festival’s 2026 theme, Between Worlds, inviting visitors to discover more about the stories, customs and rituals connected with Samhain and Ireland’s cultural heritage.

The theme reflects Samhain as a point between seasons and between worlds, when old traditions tell of the boundaries between past and present, light and dark, and the human and otherworldly becoming less distinct.

Festival Direction by MPI Artists

For MPI Artists, Púca Festival represents one of the most distinctive events on the Irish festival calendar.

As Festival Directors, MPI Artists works across the development and delivery of the entertainment programme, bringing together established artists, emerging talent, large scale live performances and culturally rooted experiences across the festival’s two County Meath locations.

The addition of The Whistlin’ Donkeys, High Stool Prophets, Mark McCabe and Janet Devlin adds another major event to a programme designed to appeal both to audiences travelling specifically for live music and to visitors looking to experience Halloween in the landscape where the traditions of Samhain began.

With further acts and experiences still to be announced, the 2026 Púca Festival programme continues to build towards four packed days in Trim and Athboy this October.

The Whistlin’ Donkeys, High Stool Prophets, Mark McCabe and special guest Janet Devlin

Púca Big Top, Trim, County Meath

Saturday, 31 October 2026

Tickets on sale Friday, 21 August at 10am

Available HERE

Púca Festival takes place from 29 October to 1 November 2026 in Trim and Athboy, County Meath.

Púca Festival is developed by Fáilte Ireland in partnership with Meath County Council and is subject to licence.