The first look at an exciting programme of events for Ireland’s new three-day Halloween festival, Púca was announced by Fáilte Ireland today, 30 July 2019. Púca is a spectacular, fun and otherworldly new festival celebrating Ireland as the original birthplace of Halloween. It will take place in three locations across Meath and Louth from 31 October – 2 November 2019.
The festival has been developed by Fáilte Ireland in partnership with Meath and Louth
County Councils to claim ownership of this internationally celebrated event and to tell the
story of Halloween’s origins in Irish and Celtic traditions with a view to encouraging more
international visitors to visit Ireland during October and November.
In its inaugural year, Ireland’s Ancient East will play host to the newly established
contemporary and inspiring Púca Festival which is designed to capture the original and
authentic spirit of Samhain across three breath-taking nights of music, food, light and
spectacle.
The festival programme can be found at www.pucafestival.com
Some highlights taking place in Drogheda
• Shadows Of The Tain (Táin Bó Cuailgne) Thursday 31 October & Friday 1 November, Old Mollies, Drogheda. 8pm. Tickets €15
Immerse yourself in the fight between Ferdiad and Cúchulainn, and join Queen Medb
and her Connacht forces as they invade Ulster at Samhain, in a unique re-telling by
Candlelit Tales of the Irish Epic, Táin Bó Cuailgne.
• Haxan – Friday 1 November, Droichead Arts Centre, Drogehda. 8pm. Tickets €12
For this special Púca screening a new score has been created by Dublin- based
musician Matthew Nolan for Benjamin Christensen’s legendary silent horror Häxan
(The Witches).
David Keenan + Sive -Friday 1 November, Crescent Concert Hall, 8pm. Tickets €20
County Louth’s very own David Keenan is a singer-songwriter whose body of work is
steeped in the poetic tradition of old but delivered in such a way that is entirely his
own. The eerie and inspiring Sive joins Keenan on the bill with her unique,
experimental arrangements.
Saturday 2 November, Crescent Concert Hall, 8pm. €15
Lisa O’Neill’s distinctive voice draws you into a surreal world influenced by all that is
beautiful and strange in traditional Irish music and beyond.
31 October – 2 November, locations to be announced.
Over three nights Drogheda will play host to de:LUX - music and light installations
which draw inspiration from tales of Irish folklore and the spirits of Halloween.