There was an oriental influence to this year's Puck Fair and the crowning of its central figure, a wild goat, writes Anne Lucey.
The fact that this is the Chinese Year of the Goat was always going to be auspicious for Puck Fair in Killorglin, Co Kerry.
The three-day event began with the coronation of King Puck and the raising of the male goat high on a stand overlooking the centre of the town. And it was the hottest fair in years, with temperatures of 25 degrees. Extra water was ferried to his majesty. And checks on his well-being were being made to help get him through the festivities before he was crowned last night by Anita O'Shea (12), this year's queen of Puck Fair. "It's a big responsibility from once you go out to catch him to when he is let back into the wild," Frank Joy said of his role as chief goat-catcher.
And a special effort was made this year to mark the confluence of east and west, and to recognise the town's 20-strong Chinese community. At some of the events Chinese sweet-and-sour was served up instead of the traditional sandwiches and savouries.
"It is more the locals who are saying they should mark the Chinese year of the Goat with Puck than we are," said Jimmy Wong, who works in his uncle Jimmy Li's The Harmony restaurant. It is one of two Chinese restaurants in Killorglin. Wong arrived from Dublin to help out two years ago and liked it so much he stayed.
The goat is a restless spirit, always sure the next meadow is greener than the one he is in, according to Chinese lore. Which is why, perhaps, the chase for this year's incumbent, the black and white Arthur, took place over many fields and rocky knolls last Monday. A special wine was also out on the shelves yesterday, "Goats du Rhône", a South African Shiraz based on Rhône grape varieties. It was happened upon by the wine arm of the fair's major sponsor, Guinness, and was set this year to put a small dent in the traditional black-and-white sales so much associated with the fair.
There are estimates that up to a quarter of a million pints of Guinness are sold each Puck Fair. Certainly, the crowded pubs such as the Old Forge, with its traditional music sessions, gave the claim credibility.
Laura Ahern, in charge of daytime entertainment, worried about the effect of the heat on the revellers in crowded, baking streets. She was issuing general warnings to drink water, and plenty of it. They were handing out bottles to cool children down.
Puck Fair was for many years a traditional reunion point for emigrants from far-flung places. It lived up to its reputation for Oliver Flood from Drogheda, who was undertaking a 10-hour on-the-spot cycling marathon on Upper Bridge Street. He met up with a man he had cycled the Canadian Rockies with six years ago.
Nora O'Sullivan-Looney, the Killorglin postmistress, accompanied Mr Flood on the marathon for the National Council for the Blind.
"I am meeting some fantastic people. I have never experienced a Puck like this," she said.
The fair continues today with a traditional cattle fair, and tomorrow, Scattering Day, will see the goat taken down from his 30ft stand.
