Joe was the King of Puck for over four decades
MANY will feel a piece of Puck Fair tradition has been lost forever following the sad news of Joseph King’s passing in Dublin last month. Joe was a member of the famous ‘Puckaroos’ band who entertained thousands of people in his 41 years coming to Puck.
Joe’s memory is to be celebrated in his adoptive town at St. James’ Church on Thursday October 26 at 6.30pm when his month’s mind mass is sure to evoke memories of a man who loved Killorglin.
Joe was a keen busker and won several competitions with his band in 1987 and 1989. As recent as 2013 the Puck Fair Committee recognised Joe’s significant contribution over the years by inviting him to the Puck Fair 400 launch in Dublin.
Joe loved life by the Laune and spent as much time there as he could with his partner, Maureen. Most of all, Joe is described as someone who loved ‘ the craic’ and was always full of love, life and laughter. Joe’s brother Des equally loved Puck Fair and together they formed a musical love affair with a festival they took to their hearts - two people whose loyalty was divided between Dublin and Kerry.
Ironically, the brothers only heard about the fair by chance in 1977 while hitch hiking around Ireland and it was during a sing-song on Cape Clear Island in Cork one evening that they declared their next destination would be Killorglin and Puck Fair. And the rest as they say is history. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam.