Killorglin is a major activity center for Kerry. It also has one of the last Inns started by Charles Bianconi and it is right in the center of the town. It’s called “The Bianconi” and features his famous horse carriages painted on the sign and on the inn. Killorglin Town Hall is held to have been built with the help of Andrew Carnegie. Your Ireland West Tours driver will be delighted to guide you there.
Killorglin was founded and developed on the beautiful River Laune which is well known for good salmon and trout fishing. The population of Killorglin was just over 2000 in the Census 0f 2011. This figure swells considerably during Puck Fair. “Puck Fair is one of Ireland’s oldest festivals, celebrating almost 400 years of documented evidence. Where else but in Ireland would a wild mountain goat be crowned King and reign over a town for three days? Killorglin – where a goat is King and people act the goat! “
The first day of the Puck Fair is known as “The Gathering Day” which makes Puck Fair the original and oldest Gathering Festival in Ireland. There is a unique coronation ceremony and parade and visitors can enjoy free day and night concerts, traditional music and dancing, midnight madness, fireworks, and the horse fair, all part of the 36 hours of free family entertainment. There is a real carnival atmosphere created by street traders, street artists, craft fair, buskers, face painting, pet show, bonny babies, puppet theatre, and music sessions.
There is a statue that commemorates the goat that is crowned King of the Puck Fair each year. It’s Ireland’s oldest festival and one legend tells that its origins come from a male goat, or “puck,” who was separated from his herd when Cromwellian forces were approaching the area. The appearance of the exhausted animal alerted villages and they were able to protect themselves from attack. Every year a goat is crowned king and a rousing party ensues.
“Puck Fair” takes place each year in Killorglin on the 10th, 11th, and 12th of August. While the exact origins of the festival are unknown, it was first recorded in the King James Charter of 1613.
