If you’re planning to head to Meath for the festivities, here’s a guide to some of the most exciting events lined up for the Púca Festival 2023. Although not all the events require tickets, booking in advance for ticketed events on the Púca website is advised.
Catch a gig
Kicking off the festival with some musical flair, Jack Lukeman will take to the stage at the Castle Arch Hotel in Trim on October 27. With a blend of chill, acoustic ballads and bassy alternative rock anthems, you’re sure to be tapping your foot to the melodic beat. From across the Irish Sea, British rock band The Charlatans will join in on the celebrations on October 28 at the Púca Big Top in Trim to perform fan favourites such as “The Only One I Know” and “One to Another” to get the crowd going. If you’re more in the mood for American R&B and soul, head over to the Knightsbrook Hotel in Trim to see Grammy-winner Macy Gray perform with her band, The California Jet Club.
For a game of music roulette, check out the Hothouse Flowers in the Darnley Lodge Hotel in Athboy on October 29. From rock n’ roll to traditional tunes, no two gigs are the same, so get ready for a musical experience that will keep you on your toes.
One show you don’t want to miss marks the coming together of two musical giants at the Púca Big Top on October 30: The Waterboys and Damien Dempsey. Listen to iconic tunes from The Waterboys’ album, the Fisherman’s Blues, and songs from Dempsey’s acclaimed record Seize the Day.
Have a laugh
Bringing their hit YouTube show, GUTF, to the Swift Cultural Centre stage in Trim on October 29, Tony Cantwell and Shane Daniel Byrne plan to create a night of laughs with a bounty of comedic guests. Make sure to stick around for the comedy legend that is Jason Byrne, who will be bringing material from his latest show.
Fresh off of her first Irish tour, rising comedic star Emma Doran brings her own sense of humour to the Swift Cultural Centre on October 30 with a list of special guests for a high-energy live comedy show.
On Halloween night, the closing night Gala on the same stage – hosted by Sharon Mannion and featuring comedic talents such as Ross Browne, Shane Daniel Byrne and John Colleary – will ensure Púca goes out with a chuckle.
Get into mischief
What’s a Halloween celebration without a little spectacle? Experience the unique Sorcas na Samhna – Celtic Circus. With special effects, dancing and more, it’s a circus experience you’re unlikely to have had before, and performances for the whole family are happening across the entire weekend at the Fair Green in Athboy.
For a circus with a kick, the adults-only Samhain Circus sees magic meet mischief with creepy cabaret, high wire acts, burlesque, fire performances and more on October 28 and 31. Expect to laugh, gasp and maybe even blush inside the Samhain Circus tent in Athboy.
There’s a reason why Davina Devine is one of Ireland’s most recognisable drag queens. Join the fantastic Caberet showgirl and her posse of guests on October 29 at Brogans Bar and Hotel for a night of glamorous entertainment.
Sit back for a story
Aindrias de Staic’s will take over the Swift Cultural Centre on October 27 to share classic Irish tales in the form of fast-paced, lively pieces of music that are deeply rooted in the western Irish culture. On October 29, Brogan’s Bar and Hotel in Trim will also showcase Candlelit Tales, modern retellings of Irish mythology from brother and sister storytelling duo Aron and Sorcha Hegarty.
For a storytelling session with a professional touch, Professor Kelly Fitzgerald will use her expansive knowledge as the head of Irish Folklore and Ethnology at University College Dublin to bring the crowd on a Journey through Irish Folklore. Stop by the Swift Cultural Centre on October 30 to discover things about Oíche Shamhna (Halloween) that you never knew before.
If you’d rather to hear tales on the go, head to the Trim Porchfields between October 28 and 31 for the Beyond the Veil Púca Trail. Guided by Cynthia Simonet, fans of ghost stories can take a haunted walking tour through the eerie streets of Trim and learn all about the mythology and folklore of the historic festival.
