VIDEO: Púca Festival draws to a close in Athboy

Hundreds turned out in Athboy last night to celebrate ‘An Lasadh Suas’ - The Lighting Up of the ancentral flame and ceremonial fire at Tlachtga to celebrate Samhain and to bring this year's Puca Festival to a close

The ceremonial fire at Tlachtga, marking Halloween night’s arrival was lit and the ancestral flame carried down from the Hill of Ward by Damien Dempsey accompanied by poet and artist Siobhan de Paor and Kila star, Ronan Ó Snodaigh.

Festivalgoers at the fairgreen enjoyed listening to local lore coinciding with the procession, with sean nós singing and Samhain storytelling by Candlelit Tales as the flame’s arrival was awaited.

Singer songwriter Dempsey lit the heart of the ‘Lasadh Suas’ sculpture adorned with ancestral messages written by the public. Encircling the fire were sculptures representing Tara, Loughcrew, Tailteann, and Uisneach. Each illuminated with stories connecting us with local heritage. Kíla and Pyro Collective provided the music and dancing.

Speaking at the event, Damien Dempsey who had rocked the Big Top tent in Trim the previous night said it was a great honour to be asked to carry the flame from the Hill of Ward down to light the ceremonial fire.

"It's a huge honour. I've been coming to Meath for a long time. I've cousins in Meath and they brought me up to the Hill of Tara and they showed me the road up to the Hill, the avenue where the chariots used to go up and people would be on each side to welcome the new High King and my imagination just went wild.

The 'Apple of my Eye' singer also has strong and poignant connections with Loughcrew. He recalled a visit there in the days before his father Francis died from Covid-related illness in November 2021 at the age of 75.

"I remember being up there and I put my hand on the sacred stones on one of the old passage graves and I was told that 'someone close to you will die but this is not the end, this goes on forever'. A week later my father got Covid and he was a very strong man but he died a week later, we thought he'd beat it. But I was told this the week before he passed, on Loughcrew, the Hill of the Witch.

"The land the spirits, Irish people just need to get back in touch with them."

He described his appearance at the Púca Big Top in Trim in front of 2,000 people on Monday night as "magic".

"The crowd were fantastic and it was brilliant having Finn Furey (Finbar's son) playing before me. And as for the Waterboys, they were just brilliant.

Asked if he'll to return to play in the Royal county, the Dubliner replied: "If I'm asked I'll be back in a shot."