The King is in the House

They say that everything in Killorglin is judged to happen before or after Puck, "King Puck" that is. The oldest fair in Ireland, Puck Fair, is held August 10-12 every year. No one knows for sure when this festival began, but records show it began around 400 years ago. The story goes when Cromwell was invading the countryside a goat came down from the hills to warn to local villagers. Each year they honor this great heroic act by gathering a 'wild' goat from the mountains and crowning him king for 3 days. The king oversees all the festivities from a cage lifted high above the city square. Well, after reading about this you know I had to add it to my calendar.

The city of Killorglin is not very big, about 2,000 people live in and around it.  The town sits on a hillside at a bend of the River Laune.

They close a couple of city streets and for 3 days thousands of people party with parades, music, vendors selling everything from electric tools to cows. Yes, a local cow fair is held in conjunction with the Puck Fair. Acrobats and clowns wonder the streets, gypsies are there in their RV's to foretell your future - we even saw Elvis, but I could not bring myself to take his picture. Numerous concerts, of a large musical variety, are held each afternoon / evening with puppet shows during the day. They also have a carnival with lots of rides and games.  At then end of the 3 days the local town folk release the goat back to the hills and the fair is over till next year.

We chatted with a local man (on the far right) who participates in this fair each year.  He told us he was in charge of releasing the goat one year and he did not know how the goat would react after 3 days of being in a cage, he cautiously stepped back - not wanting to be butted, but when he opened the cage door the goat looked around, sauntered out and began to chew on a bramble bush - not so much as a thank you. He also told us of the American connection to the fair, the crown itself was made by a fella in Memphis (the king - get it?)  I think he had a touch of the blarney in him.   While he was on stage, and in the middle of a song, he waves and yells "hello to my American friends over there" of-course everyone looked at us.

There used to be a train that ran to the town but it has long since stopped.  The train bridge is now a very cool walking path across the river connecting the east side to the west.   I wish Athlone had such a walking path across River Shannon.

PHOTO ALBUM