King Puck, the goat symbolizing the Puck Fair, made a brief appearance at this year's festival.

The Puck Fair, held in Killorglin, Co Kerry, each August is Ireland's oldest fair. It is linked to pre-Christian celebrations of a fruitful harvest and that the male goat or “Puck” was a Pagan symbol of fertility, like the Pagan god Pan.

King Puck, a goat captured from the surrounding rural area, only made two short appearances at this year's fair. He made a brief appearance on the fair's opening day on Thursday and is making another short appearance on the closing day on Saturday.

Read more: Meet the US women competing to be crowned the Rose of Tralee

Traditionally, King Puck remains in its cage on a platform 50 feet high throughout the festival before being released back into the wild.

However, organizers were forced to take down the mountain goat last year over concerns for its welfare during the heatwave. Temperatures rose to 27 degrees Celsius (80 Fahrenheit) and gave rise to serious animal welfare concerns and an intervention by the Department of Agriculture.

Organizers of the Puck Fair decided that King Puck will no longer remain in a cage on the raised platform for the entire festival.

A spokesman said: "In 2023, the Puck Fair Committee unanimously agreed that the role of the goat, our King Puck, should evolve. Rather than remaining on the stand for three days, this year he will be raised on his stand for a short period following his coronation.

"He will then not be seen again until the final day of Puck Fair when a brief dethroning ceremony will take place. We are delighted that King Puck will continue to play an important role in the festival and uphold the longstanding traditions, which we are all very proud of."

Each year, a girl is chosen from one of the primary schools in the surrounding district to be the queen of the fair, Queen Puck. Twelve-year-old Leila Mulvihill is this year's Queen Puck. Both her mother and aunt previously held the role.

The festival, which dates back to the 1600s, is taking place for the second time this year since the Covid-19 crisis.

SIMILAR ARTICLES TO THIS
POWERED BY 

It's believed the festival began after Oliver Cromwell's men ravaged Killorglin’s surrounding areas and a goat broke away from its herd. It found its way to the people of the town to warn them of what was coming.

The goat's warning allowed the people of Killorglin to protect themselves and their livestock. It is said that in recognition of the service rendered by the goat, the people decided to institute a special festival in his honor and this festival has been held ever since.

For