Everything Irish-Blog Marathon

Killorglin in the geographical heart of Kerry is the venue for one of Ireland's most unusual street festivals - Puck Fair.

Held mid august every year, a 3 day event. The Puck, a wild mountain goat, is traditionally caught on the August bank holiday Monday. Then on the morning of Gathering Day he is paraded through the streets of killingly to rapturous applause and cheering. On arrival at the town square he is crowned King. The newly mad monarch is then ceremoniously raised on a scaffold platform some twenty five feet high. The Puck resides here for the next three days and nights looking down on his subjects.

But why crown a goat?
Some believe the crowning of the goat began as a pre Christian festival in honour of the Celtic Sun God, Lugh, and the Fair has always coincided with the ancient festival of Lughnasa. Others believe the fair started as early as the 13th Century By far the most popular notion however is that of the connection with Oliver Cromwell and his advancing army.

Word has it that a herd of goats were grazing an a high peak, when suddenly the noise of Cromwell’s army scattered them into the hills- all of them that is except for one brave male which, it is said, instead of fleeing with the rest, ran down the mountain and into Killorglin. The local people saw the exhausted goat sensed something was very wrong and so armed themselves with Shillelagh and pitchfork. T

There is no evidence that a battle took place that day, but what did happen on that fateful day back in 1650 was that Killorglin and it’s new found hero were given a place in Irish Folklore and have remained there to this day. And its a mighty place to go for the craic!!! (drinking, dancing etc)

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