Fair warning: Don’t come down for Puck or Kenmare this year

THE Gardaí, the HSE and the Council have warned the public to ‘desist’ from travelling to Killorglin or Kenmare in the expectation of any informal, parallel or ‘unofficial’ gathering in these towns on the traditional Fair Days next month.

Both Puck Fair on August, 10, 11 and 12 and the traditional August 15 Fair Day in Kenmare have been cancelled in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, and a warning has been re-iterated that these events are not going ahead in any shape or form.

Additional Garda patrols will be put in place in Kenmare and Killorglin to ensure that there are no gatherings in either location.

Garda Superintendent Flor Murphy said he was appealing to people to follow public-health advice.

“Puck Fair in Killorglin and Fair Day in Kenmare are great social events but, unfortunately, these social occasions pose a risk to public health at the moment. I am appealing to people to act responsibly and to comply with the public-health advice,” he said.

He warned that An Garda

Síochána will be on patrol in the towns.

“We will be implementing additional policing measures at both locations to ensure public health guidelines are complied with,” he added.

The HSE and Kerry County Council are also supporting the appeal by An Garda Siochána. All three bodies are part of the Cork-Kerry Inter-agency Emergency Management Group, and they are urging the public to heed public-health advice.

Community Work Manager with Cork Kerry Community Healthcare at the HSE, Hilary Scanlan, said: “Our communities have worked very hard to flatten the curve of COVID-19 and to keep everyone safe.

“It’s important that we all continue to ‘Hold Firm’ and remember the government guidelines on gatherings and physical distancing,” she added.

The Mayor of Kerry Cllr Patrick O’Connor-Scarteen thanked the organisers of these events for showing leadership in cancelling the festivals, which are traditionally such an important part of the summer.

“COVID-19 is still with us and personal behaviour is paramount in continuing to flatten the curve, and it is essential that we do not have any attempts to have parallel or private gatherings in contravention of the guidelines.

“We all hope that the many summer festivals in the county will be in position to resume their tremendous work and bring enjoyment to visitors once again in 2021,” he said.

The organisers behind Puck Fair made the difficult decision to host the traditional Puck Fair festival earlier this year based on ensuring the safety of the public.

The committee has said it hopes to be back next year.

August 15 in Kenmare does not have an organising committee and traditionally stall-holders arrive in the town for the day.

However, local official bodies have warned against any such activities this year.

Kerry County Council has also emphasised however that the usual dates for Puck Fair and the Fair Day in Kenmare will be normal business days in Killorglin and Kenmare respectively, and members of the public should continue to go about their business on these dates in a safe way.

Scenes from last year’s Puck Fair, when thousands gathered to mark the crowning of the Puck Goat in Killorglin. This year’s Fair has been cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Wheeling and dealing at the traditonal August 15 Fair Day in Kenmare. This event has been cancelled this year in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the public is being urged not to turn up or have any informal gatherings.