The Kerryman (South Kerry Edition)
PUCK RULES KILLORGLIN
CATTLE, HORSES, BANTER AND LATE NIGHT PARTYING .... HUGE CROWDS IN KILLORGLIN FOR PUCK FAIR 2016
EARLY each morning steady lines of people crossed the Laune Bridge making their way to the hub of one of Ireland’s oldest and most captivating fairs. Some tourists stopped along the way to pose for photographs by the goat statute at the bottom of the bridge, smiling and sharing pictures around the world. All the while, the River Laune looked serene in the calm and clammy August air.
Puck Fair might be as old as the hills from which it sources its goat each year, but its appeal is an important part of the here and now for Killorglin, Kerry and further afield as throngs of visitors descend on the town for three days of gatherings, scatterings, fair days - and even a few fine days – all igniting the essence of Lughnasa and its reputation for ancient festivals.
The customary ‘neighing and whining’ signified the start of Puck as horses and optimistic owners made for the field just outside town early Wednesday morning. The Coronation Parade, with 12-year-old Queen of Puck, Kerry Lynch, stealing the show is probably the fair’s best attended event as thousands packed the narrow little streets to soak up the atmosphere and meet King Puck for the first time as he is lofted high above the square. “The goat has put on weight since he joined us – he’s on good grass! He’ll go back now and tell all his friends he had a great time,” said goat-catcher and festival committee member, John McGrath.
The cattle fair is the highlight of day two as Langford Street hosted herds of cattle from early morning where even some of the surrounding chip vans still retained their heat from the previous evening’s exertions as crowds thronged to hear ‘The Usual Suspects’. By mid-morning, street stalls where bustling and trade was brisk with live music and street entertainment encouraging people to stroll from street to street with the promise of something new at every turn. Mike Denver attracted over 8,000 people later on Thursday night and the concept of ‘opening and closing time’ seemed to get lost somewhere in the late summer air.
Scattering Day is the third and final act of the festival as people enjoy themselves with an unmistakable feeling of not wanting to let go. And why would they?
King Puck eventually bid farewell to his adoring fans, returning to the more secluded vantage point of Kerry’s hills to look over the last of the summer madness where music by ‘Amazing Apples’ and a glittering fireworks display lit up Killorglin one last time on Friday night. “The whole package – the committee, the workers, the townspeople, the visitors, the entertainers – all work together to make up the whole unique package that is Puck Fair,” said Declan Mangan, Chairman of Puck Fair committee.