What is Púca Festival?
Halloween, Ireland likes to remind the world, is Irish. It grew out of Samhain, the Celtic festival that marked the end of the harvest and the start of winter, when the boundary between the living world and the otherworld was believed to grow thin. Fires were lit, spirits roamed, and people disguised themselves to avoid being recognized. Emigrants carried the custom to North America, where it became the Halloween we know today.
Púca is a modern festival built to bring that story home. Developed by Fáilte Ireland, the national tourism body, with Meath County Council, and first held in 2019, it takes place in County Meath, in the Boyne Valley north-west of Dublin, a landscape crowded with ancient monuments. Its name comes from the púca, a shape-shifting spirit of Irish folklore that might appear as a horse, a goat or a dark figure on the road, and that could bring luck or mischief depending on its mood.
The festival is centered on two towns. Trim, with the largest Anglo-Norman castle in Ireland, hosts much of the music, comedy and street spectacle. Athboy sits a mile or so from Tlachtga, the Hill of Ward, where tradition says a great Samhain fire was lit in ancient times. The festival runs heritage tours and meditations on the hill and lights its own Samhain fire on the Fair Green in town. Between them, the program mixes concerts, storytelling, circus, guided tours and family events with a strong thread of myth and folklore.
Halloween came from here. Púca is an invitation to see it where it began.
The entrance stone at Newgrange, a short drive from the festival towns
Photo by Qole Pejorian / flickr · CC BY 2.0
What to expect
The program changes each year, but a few events anchor the weekend.
Opening night
Music and myth
The festival opens with concerts, comedy and storytelling sessions in venues around Trim, including tents and halls close to the castle.
Procession night
The Púca procession
Drummers, musicians, fire performers and costumed spirits take over the streets of Trim. The procession is free to watch, so arrive early for a good view along the route.
Samhain night
The fire on the hill
As the sun sets, the Samhain fire is lit on the Fair Green in Athboy, with fire performers and storytelling. A free festival shuttle links Trim and Athboy.
Final day
Family and folklore
Daytime events for children, walking tours and talks on Irish myth close the festival.
Planning your trip
Getting there
Trim is about 50 km from Dublin, and Athboy is a little further. Bus Éireann route 111 runs from Dublin's Busáras to both towns, and trains from Dublin Connolly to Enfield connect with a local bus to Trim (about 25 minutes). The festival has also announced coaches from Dublin, Drogheda, Navan, Slane, Kells and Mullingar, and a free shuttle runs hourly between Trim and Athboy in 20 to 30 minutes. If you are driving, check the festival's travel page for parking and traffic arrangements, since streets in Trim are busy for the procession.
Where to stay
Trim has a small number of hotels and guesthouses that fill quickly, so many visitors stay in Dublin and travel out for the day or evening. If you want to stay in Meath, book early, or look at Navan and Kells for more options. Trim is the most practical base for concerts and the procession, while Athboy suits the fire and the heritage events.
What it costs
Much of the program is free: the procession, projections on Trim Castle and many street events cost nothing, as does the shuttle. Concerts, comedy, the over-18s Samhain Circus and the Samhain Banquet are ticketed. In the 2026 listings, The Coronas in Trim were €50 and the banquet in Athboy was €85 plus fees. Dublin hotels are usually cheaper than a bed in Trim, but add the cost of the bus or coach back.
Go like you know
- Visit Trim Castle by day. Its towering keep and riverside walls set the scene for the evening's spirits.
- Stretching the trip? November 5 brings rougher fire to southern England: Lewes Bonfire Night and the Ottery St Mary Tar Barrels. For Ireland's other big festival, St. Patrick's Festival fills Dublin every March.
- Make time for Brú na Bóinne, the Neolithic passage tombs of Newgrange and Knowth, a short drive away and older than the pyramids.
- Book concerts as soon as tickets go on sale, as the best shows sell out.
- Eat in a pub in Trim before the procession, and expect them to be busy early.
- Bring children to the daytime events and the procession; the hilltop fire is better for older kids and adults.
Frequently asked questions
Is Púca a scary Halloween event?
Not really. It is more magical than gory, built on myth, folklore and spectacle rather than horror. The procession and fire are atmospheric, and some costumes are eerie, but most events are family-friendly. Check the program for late-night shows aimed at adults.
Do I need tickets?
The procession, projections and many street events are free, while concerts, comedy shows, the Samhain Circus and the Samhain Banquet are ticketed. The festival website lists which is which, and parade seating is sold separately. Book ticketed events early, since venues in Trim and Athboy are small.
Can I do Púca as a day trip from Dublin?
Yes. Trim is about 50 km from the city, and Bus Éireann runs there, with festival coaches added. A day trip works well for the procession or a concert. The Samhain fire in Athboy is lit at sunset and runs into the evening, so check the last coach and bus times back, or stay overnight nearby.
How old is the festival?
Púca itself is young: Fáilte Ireland, Ireland's tourism body, developed it with Meath County Council, and the first edition ran in 2019. The traditions it celebrates are far older. Samhain, the festival marking the end of summer, is an ancient Irish observance, and Irish tradition links Tlachtga to its great fire.
