A Strange Irish King - King Puck and the Oldest Festival in Ireland
Written by Ciaran Vipond on Jul 31, 2019 | 0 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.
Festival Fare
For the locals and the festival’s many attendees each year, it is the best of Craic 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 news.
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 would 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 show in the festival’s timing. The ancient Celtic festival of Lúnasa, which celebrates 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 a Harvest festival with ancient origins.
Making a stack in Dunquin, Co. Kerry in 1948.
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.
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Ciaran Vipond
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!
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