Puck Fair in Killorglin, one of Ireland’s oldest fairs
Every 10 to 12 August, Killorglin crowns a wild mountain goat, opens the oldest fair in Kerry and fills every bed for miles. These are the closest B&Bs in the directory, each one bookable direct with the owner.
Three days, one king, four centuries of paperwork
Puck Fair takes over Killorglin on the same three days every year, the 10th to the 12th of August. It holds a royal charter from King James I dated 1613, which legalised a fair already running at the time, so the true age of the gathering is anyone’s guess and the town happily calls it one of Ireland’s oldest fairs.
The centrepiece is exactly as strange as its reputation. A wild mountain goat, caught in MacGillycuddy’s Reeks, is crowned King Puck by the Queen of Puck, a local schoolgirl, and reigns over the town for the three days of the fair before being returned to the wild.
Gathering, Fair and Scattering, how the three days run
Each day has its own name and its own character. Gathering Day, the 10th, opens with the horse fair and ends with the coronation parade, when the king is raised briefly on his stand above the square. Fair Day, the 11th, is the traditional cattle fair and the fullest day of street trading. Scattering Day, the 12th, winds the fair down with the dethroning ceremony and a fireworks finale.
Between the ceremonies, the town runs on street markets, buskers and live music from morning until late, with the pubs traditionally granted late-night exemptions for the fair. The whole event is free to attend, which is part of why the crowds swell to many times Killorglin’s population.
The goat, it should be said, is treated more gently than legend suggests. In recent years he is raised on his stand only briefly, at the coronation and again at the dethroning, with a vet in attendance throughout the fair.
Killorglin, the Laune and the Ring of Kerry
Killorglin is a market town on the River Laune, on the Ring of Kerry route about 22 kilometres west of Killarney. A bronze statue of King Puck stands by the bridge all year round, a fair reflection of how completely the fair and the town belong to each other.
That Ring of Kerry position is what makes a Puck Fair trip so easy to build a holiday around. Killarney and its national park sit half an hour east, Dingle and Slea Head are within reach to the northwest, and Carrauntoohil rises barely fifteen kilometres from the town, so three days of fair can anchor a full week in Kerry.
B&Bs and guesthouses near Puck Fair
The closest listings in the directory to Killorglin, with the distance to the town shown on each. August is Kerry’s peak, so contact owners early and book direct.
Frequently asked
Puck Fair, common questions
What are the exact dates of Puck Fair?
Puck Fair is held on the same three fixed days every year, 10 to 12 August, regardless of what day of the week they fall on.
Is Puck Fair free to attend?
Yes, the whole event is free, which is part of why the crowds swell to many times Killorglin’s own population.
Is the goat treated well during Puck Fair?
Yes, he is raised on his stand only briefly, at the coronation and again at the dethroning, with a vet in attendance throughout the fair, and is returned to the wild afterward.
What is close to Killorglin for a Puck Fair trip?
Killorglin sits on the Ring of Kerry route, with Killarney National Park about half an hour east, Dingle and Slea Head within reach northwest, and Carrauntoohil barely fifteen kilometres away.
Going this year?
Book a bed near Puck Fair direct
Puck Fair fills Killorglin and every town around it each August. A B&B booked direct puts a local host, a real breakfast and honest advice at the centre of the strangest three days in Kerry.