The Kerryman (South Kerry Edition)
IT’S A HOLIDAY, NOT HARDSHIP FOR KING PUCK
FESTIVAL BOSSES: ‘GOAT’S WELFARE IS PARAMOUNT’
ANIMAL rights activists protesting about the use of a live goat at Puck Fair should focus on real cases of animal cruelty rather than hitting out at age old traditions.
That’s the message from South Kerry TD Michael Healy Rae who this week gave his unequivocal backing to Puck Fair and its organisers after The Animal Rights Action Network called for an end to the ‘outdated’ practice of crowning a goat at the 400 year old festival.
ARAN claim the practice terrifies the animal and they have called for Kerry County Council to intervene and end the centuries old tradition.
Deputy Healy Rae hit out at the group who he accused of knowing nothing about the festival and said they would be better served investigating actual animal cruelty.
“I really don’t think these people have a clue about what happens. With the utmost respect for their position I have to ask, have they nothing better to do?”
“If ARAN want to stop real animal cruelty they should start with all the starving horses in Dublin rather than attacking traditions that date back hundreds of years,” said Deputy Healy Rae.
The fair’s organisers say that the welfare of the goat is of paramount concern to all involved in the festival.
“We have strict protocols in place to ensure this and they are overseen and checked by an independent vet.”
ANIMAL rights activists protesting the use of a live goat at Puck Fair should focus on real cases of animal cruelty rather than hitting out at age old traditions.
That’s the message from South Kerry TD Michael Healy Rae who this week gave his unequivocal backing to Puck Fair and its organisers amidst allegations of animal cruelty at the 400 year old festival.
On Monday The Animal Rights Action Network (ARAN) said Kerry County Council to step in a stop the practice of a live goat being captured and crowned ‘King’ of the fair.
ARAN spokesman John Carmody said the tradition is outdated, terrifies the animal and should be ended.
“ARAN is urging the good folk of Killorglin to stand with us and compassionate people across Ireland who now agree that tradition should never be used to justify animal suffering,” he said.
“The puck is a wild animal who doesn’t understand the loud noise, bright lights, and thousands of people in front of him, and he certainly doesn’t understand being hoisted into the air and left there to dangle over a weekend. We’re encouraging the festival goers to get with the times and take the puck out of the Fair, because if you wouldn’t do it your dog, why do it to a goat?” said Mr Carmody.
The group’s concerns were shot down by strident Puck Fair supporter Independent TD Michael Healy Rae who said groups such as ARAN should focus their attention on real cases of animal cruelty.
“I respect everyone’s opinion but in this case I really think they haven;t a clue what’s going on. With the utmost respect for their position I have to ask, have they nothing better to do?”
“I’m a farmer and there’s nothing that upsets me more than mistreatment of animals. If I thought for one second that the goat was being badly treated I would be the first person to object,” he said.
“If Aran want to stop real animal cruelty they should start with all the starving horses in Dublin rather than attacking traditions that date back hundreds of years,” said Deputy Healy Rae.
“The goat is treated exceptionally well,” said Healy Rae. “He is under constant supervision of a vet and very responsible, respectful and dependable people.”
“The truth of this matter is the goat is returned to the wild in a way better condition than when he is captured. To say otherwise is not fair,” he said.
“I’d go so far as to say that if the goats knew what was ahead of them at the festival you wouldn’t even need to catch them. They’d be lining up to take part.”
The fair’s organisers say that the welfare of the goat is of paramount concern to all involved in the festival.
They deny the goat is, as claimed, hoisted and left alone for three days on the stand. The goat is on the platform for a maximum of 48 hours. In that time he is checked three times a day by handlers, brought down and examined daily by a vet and has constant access to food and water. The vet is independent of the fair’s organisers and if proper conditions are not met, per animal welfare regulations, he can remove the animal.
Organisers have also said that concert stages are specifically designed to ensure the goat is not affected, with special angled speakers being used to ensure the spread of sound does not reach it.