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A Strange Irish King - King Puck and the Oldest Festival in Ireland

A Strange Irish King - King Puck and the Oldest Festival in Ireland

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Written by Ciaran on Aug 04, 2025 | 2 Comments

One of Ireland’s oldest and some would say oddest festivals takes place each August in Killorglin in Co, Kerry. The Puck Fair or, Aonach an Phoic in Irish, sees a wild mountain goat crowned and worshipped as King for the three days of the festival.

Photo Credit: Irish Fireside (CC BY 2.0)

Festival Fare

For the locals and the festival’s many attendees each year, it is the best of craic (fun) and a tradition that has an ancient past. Of course there are more typical festival offerings for the 100,000 + people who attend, including music, singing, dancing, storytelling, street performance as well as market, a horse fair and fireworks. But it is the “King Puck” and his parade that really seems to capture the imagination, with international notice from Australian, UK and US.

Photo Credit: Killorglin Archives

The Oldest Festival in Ireland?

This strange festival has been taking place in Killorglin at least since it’s recognition in a charter by King James I in 1613, which granted legal status to an existing fair. The fact it was an existing fair suggests it had been running without the royal seal of approval for some years previous.

Many locals argue the festival and its unlikely King have their roots in pagan Ireland, as far back as the 4th century, making it one of the oldest festivals in Ireland or indeed in Europe.

Photo Credit: Killorglin Archives

It Ends Well for the Goat

In pagan times, this celebration may not have ended well for the wild goat, with him likely being sacrificed! Thankfully the goat is treated more humanely these days!

Queen of Puck crowning the "King" at the Killorglin Puck Fair.

Photo Credit: Killorglin Archives

Each year a prospective goat king is brought down from the mountain and receives pampering on a farm. He is then crowned by the Queen of Puck, fed like royalty and then released back to his mountain home after the festival.

Photo Credit: C. Neville

Lúnasa the Harvest Festival

Puck fair's pagan roots also show in the festival’s timing. The ancient Celtic festival of Lúnasa, which celebrates the god Lugh and the harvest, is marked at the start of August. And given the goat was a symbol of pagan fertility it is not a stretch to see how this might account for a billy goat or a ‘poc’ in Irish, being worshipped as a king at an harvest festival with ancient origins.

Making a stack in Dunquin, Co. Kerry in 1948.

Photo Credit: Caoimhin O Danachair © National Folklore Collection, UCD (CC BY-NC 4.0)

Enjoy the revelry

If you want to get a small taste of Puck Fair but don't have the good fortune to attend in person, you can follow #homeforpuck and see what it means to the many fans of the festival.

Your Own Irish Crown

If you fancy an Irish crown to rival that of King Puck look no further than the iconic Claddagh. With a crown of loyalty, this centuries-old Irish symbol speaks to romantic virtues of friendship and love and is a must have for the jewellery collection of any Hibernophile.

Claddagh Ring with Celtic braid

AU$210.00

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Claddagh Ring with Connemara Marble Heart

AU$280.00

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Extra Large Claddagh Ring

AU$330.00

Explore All Claddagh Rings

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Ciaran

My Irish Jeweler

Born in Co. Antrim and reared in Dublin, I was fascinated with Gaelic culture from an early age. I suppose it's not surprising given my mother inherited a grá for the Irish language from my grandfather, an Irish school headmaster. And that grá continues! My brother and sister are now Gaelic teachers here in Ireland, my niece is an award winning Irish dancer, and I proudly work to share Irish culture through our Irish and Celtic Jewelry at My Irish Jeweler!

I love researching and reading about the history of Irish design. It's at the core of what we do here at My Irish Jeweler. I find much of it so interesting that I have to share what I find. I hope you enjoy it!

Comments

Todd Halky

I was wondering if you could help me track down or find someone to make a necklace. My wife and my first date was at Puck fair in NYC. The pub has since closed but had the wild goat symbol outside the front of the pub. I was wondering if it's possible to get that on a necklace. Ty Todd

Jane ChadwickTodd Halky

Hi Todd, Thanks for sharing your lovely story. Sounds like a very thoughtful gift idea. I believe my colleague Vicky was in touch with you via email. We do have the ability to do relatively uncomplicated designs in our Family Crest necklaces. But the artwork you shared has quite a lot of detail that may better captured with another design. Hope you find a way to make it happen.