Blind Boy among the first wave of acts announced for Púca 2025

Blindboy, Jason Byrne, Emma Doran, Young Hot Guys, Qween & The Dublin Gospel Choir and Davina Devine are the first acts confirmed for this year's Púca Festival

This year's Púca Festival returns to Trim and Athboy from Thursday 30th October to Sunday 2nd November with tickets on sale from 11th July.

The iconic podcaster Blind Boy will take to the stage this year while Qween make a welcome return to Meath, following their barnstormer in the Trim Castle Hotel last year.

Comedy features large on the early list of confirmed artist list with Jason Byrne and Emma Doran set to provide the laughs over the four-day festival.

Visitors to the festival can enjoy a wide range of performances and workshops that celebrate Irish myth, music, and heritage, from the beautiful music of 'Moonlight', The Philip Lynott Enigma or an eerie journey with Beyond the Veil: The Púca Trail, a mystical walk, in search of otherworldly spirits.

Experience the thrilling spectacle of the Samhain Circus, listen to traditional tales with Craicly Stories and Dubliner - The Luke Kelly Story or explore nature on the Foraging Tour and Heritage Tours of Tlachtga (the Hill of Ward). Each event is a chance to connect with Ireland’s rich culture and traditions in a fresh, exciting way.

Events will take place across a variety of venues in Trim and Athboy and new for 2025, on Halloween night, the Samhain Banquet at the Darnley Lodge Hotel (Athboy) will offer a special opportunity to gather and feast with warmth, music and tradition at the heart of the evening.

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.

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.

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.

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.”

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.”

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.

Púca Festival lineup 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.