King Puck Fair, Killorglin, Co. Kerry, Ireland 1976

Puck Fair in Killorglin County Kerry is Ireland’s oldest and most traditional fair, although nobody can say exactly when it first started.

Thousands of visitors from all walks of life, from Ireland and abroad, attend the attractions associated with the three day event, but the main business of the fair is trading horses, cattle and sheep. The pubs are open from 6 am until 3 am but according to the locals

Sure most people at Puck don’t bother to sleep at all for the three days of the fair.

The crowning of the goat ‘King Puck’ is the highlight of the fair. The goat is hoisted above the town and displayed for the duration of the event.

Patrick Houlihan whose family has been responsible for catching King Puck for nearly a century describes the difficulties encountered with this task. He is keen to stress that there is no animal cruelty involved and the goat is released back into the wild to his traditional home of the Carrauntoohil Mountains when the fair is over.

I’d say to look down at the crowd and see the thousands, he’ll be the happiest animal or person around Killorglin for the three days.

An RTÉ News report broadcast on 11 August 1976.