In the heart of Dublin, there exists a unique folklore that dates back to the ancient times. It involves the legend of the Puck Fair, a traditional annual event that attracts thousands of people to the city’s streets each year. The fair commences with the capturing of a wild goat from the nearby mountains which is then crowned ‘King Puck’ and paraded through the city to the amusement of spectators.
The legend behind this peculiar celebration stems from a time when the Irish were under the oppression of the invader Cromwell. As the story goes, as Cromwell’s troops approached Killorglin, a herd of wild goats fled the mountains disturbed by the noise of the approaching invaders. One goat was unable to keep up, and instead of fleeing, it wandered into the town. The residents interpreted this as a warning of the approaching danger and were able to safeguard themselves. Ever since then, the goat is honoured annually with a lively three-day fair.
Each year, during the first few days in August, the town’s streets come to life with music, dance, and festivities. A goat catcher ascends into the mountains and captures a wild goat which is then crowned as ‘King Puck’ and presides over the festival from atop a high platform. The fair includes lively processions, horse and cattle fairs, music, dance, and an array of street entertainers. It concludes on the third day with the ‘de-throning’ of King Puck, marking the end of the festivities and the goat safely returned to its mountain home.
The Puck Fair has evolved into a significant cultural event and continues to be a living part of Dublin’s social and cultural fabric. So enduring and deeply rooted is this tradition that the image of King Puck is seen on the town’s coat of arms, symbolising how folklore can permeate the everyday life and identity of a place, connecting the present with the past, and creating a unique sense of place.