Damien Dempsey to carry the Ancestral Flame from the Hill of Ward as the Púca Festival draws to a close

The Fairgreen in Athboy at 5pm, today (October 31st) will be the location for the Púca Festival closing ceremony ‘An Lasadh Suas’,.

A ceremonial fire at Tlachtga, marking Halloween night’s arrival will be lit and the ancestral flame will be carried down from the Hill of Ward at 5.15pm, with Damien Dempsey, Siobhan de Paor and Ronan Ó Snodaigh.

Festivalgoers will gather at the fairgreen to enjoy local lore coinciding with the procession, with sean nós singing and Samhain storytelling by Candlelit Tales as the flame’s arrival is awaited.

At 6pm, Damien Dempsey will light the heart of this spectacle, the ‘Lasadh Suas’ sculpture adorned with your ancestral messages. Encircling it are fire sculptures representing Tara, Loughcrew, Tailteann, and Uisneach. Each will illuminate with stories connecting us to our local heritage. Kíla and Pyro Collective will bring the ceremony to a close, finishing at 8pm.

Organisers are asking that people to be aware that the land in Athboy will be impacted by the rain, dress suitably for wet weather and be mindful of issues with visibility, muddy conditions underfoot, and general care.

Traffic through the town will be diverted with directional arrows and staff due to road closures, please note the Athboy church carpark will be in use.

The Athboy Craft Market will be serving tea, coffee, food and crafts at the Fairgreen until 9pm. Those looking to keep the Púca spirit alive can venture into the Samhain Circus at 9pm, tickets are available at pucafestival.com. We hope to see you all there for our final night of Púca Festival celebrations.