We’re Back for Puck!
~Killorglin Kicks off 3-Day Extravaganza as Visitors and Locals Flock to the Town
for Ireland’s Oldest Festival, Puck Fair~
Thursday 10th August: Puck Fair, Ireland’s oldest annual festival, has kicked off once again in true style, with visitors from all over Ireland and the globe flocking to the town of Killorglin to celebrate the crowning of King Puck. This year’s festival is especially meaningful for Irish emigrants using the 3-day extravaganza as a great opportunity to return to the green grass of home, with many Irish natives living abroad delighted to be #BackForPuck.
Today (Thursday August 10th), is the first day of the festival and is fondly referred to as ‘Gathering Day’. Initial proceedings began in the early hours of the morning, with buyers, traders and revellers alike coming together for Ireland’s longest-running Horse Fair at Evan’s Field on the Tralee Road. The day will continue in true exhilarating Puck Fair fashion, with street entertainers and musicians roaming the town’s busy square and performing on street corners, much to the delight of festival-goers.
A brand new addition to this year’s Puck Fair is the installation of a pop-up archives office in the town square, which contains hundreds of photos taken over the years at the many festival celebrations. This office will be open from 12pm each day and will provide a wonderful source of information for tourists and local history buffs.
Throughout the day, such entertainment will be provided by acts such as Wobbly Circus, Sproai Chiarrai and Squawkabout, while the Kingdom Party Pals will provide a fabulous surprise for the excited children in attendance, who will be invited to pose for snaps with their favourite Disney characters. Later in the evening, guests are expected to gather in their droves along the bridge and around the main square in anticipation of the Coronation Parade and Ceremony, during which a wild mountain goat will be crowned as King Puck. The honour of this coronation will this year be handed over to the Queen of Puck, Caitlin Horgan, a pupil of Scoil Mhuire in Killorglin. Her Lady-in-Waiting, who will be working closely with the Queen over the course of the festivities, is Lily-Sue Eyers of Douglas National School on the outskirts of the town.
Later this evening, celebrations are set to continue as the wonderful and energetic Brass & Co. gear up to take to the town square’s main stage to entertain the masses on the very first night of Puck Fair 2017.
Organisers of the festival expect to welcome over 100,000 visitors over the duration of the festival, which began today (August 10th) and will run until Saturday 12th August. Aside from getting the opportunity to meet King Puck and his Queen, those attending Puck Fair over the course of the three days will also be entertained by a host of fabulous musical acts, including The Elvis Spectacular Show and The Ultimate Garth Brooks Experience, appearing on the town square main stage on Friday 11th and Saturday 12th August respectively.
As usual, King Puck is being given the royal treatment at this year’s festival. Aside from enjoying a sumptuous diet of ash tree branches, water and cabbage, he will be checked on at regular intervals by experienced handlers to ensure that he is comfortable and very well-fed, until he returns to his mountain home following his Dethronement Ceremony on Saturday 12th August.
For pictures and live updates, follow the conversation with #BackForPuck, check out www.facebook.com/puckfair or twitter @puck_fair and visit YouTube to view puckfairofficial videos. For updates and the full programme of events, visit www.puckfair.ie
For more information, contact:
Judy Hopkins – judy@hopkinscommunications.ie / 086 3120752
or
Carrie McKeown – carrie@hopkinscommunications.ie / 083 1809629
