Puck Fair happens every year on the 10th, 11th and 12th of August in Killorglin — a small town on the River Laune, 20 minutes from Killarney. A wild male goat is captured from the MacGillycuddy's Reeks, crowned King Puck, and enthroned on a high platform in the town square for three days of music, markets and festivity. It is one of Ireland's oldest fairs, with roots in ancient Celtic harvest tradition, and it has been running continuously for at least 400 years.
Puck Fair — at a glance
- Dates 10th, 11th and 12th August — every year without exception
- Location Killorglin town centre, County Kerry
- Distance 20km from Killarney — 20 minutes by car
- Entry Free street festival
- The three days Gathering Day · Fair Day · Scattering Day
The three days
Gathering Day — the 10th — opens the fair with the arrival and coronation of King Puck. The goat is brought down from the mountains, led through the town in a procession, and hoisted on his platform above the square where he will reign for the duration. Fair Day — the 11th — is the main trading and festival day, with market stalls, street entertainment, horse trading and music from morning until the small hours. Scattering Day — the 12th — closes the fair with the dethroning of King Puck and his return to the mountains.
Three days, a wild mountain goat as king, and four centuries of continuous tradition — Puck Fair is one of those Irish institutions that defies easy explanation.
Music and atmosphere
Music runs throughout Puck Fair — traditional sessions in the pubs, street performers in the square, and organised stages with live acts in the evenings. The pubs in Killorglin are licensed until 3am for the three days of the fair, which gives some indication of the atmosphere. It is a genuine community festival that has absorbed rather than been replaced by commercialisation.
Local tip: Killorglin is small and fills completely during Puck Fair. If you want to stay overnight, book accommodation months in advance — not weeks. Killarney is a good base for day trips to the fair, with regular buses and taxis running between the two towns during the festival.
Practical information
Dates
10th, 11th and 12th August every year — these dates never change
Location
Killorglin town centre — 20km from Killarney on the N72
Getting There
20 minutes by car from Killarney. Bus services run between Killarney and Killorglin during the fair
Accommodation
Book months in advance for Killorglin. Killarney works well as a base — 20 minutes away