Every year in the town of Killorglin, a wild goat is crowned king during one of Ireland's oldest festivals. Puck Fair is held from 10 to 12 August every year in the picturesque town on the banks of River Laune in County Kerry. A wild goat is caught in the mountains above the town and paraded through the streets, accompanied by the Queen of Puck, a local schoolgirl.

Puck Fair goat Ireland
Puck Queen Caitlin Horgan, 12, meets the wild goat that will be crowned King Puck Clodagh Kilcoyne/Reuters
Puck Fair goat Ireland
The wild goat is paraded through the town of Killorglin before it is crowned King Puck Clodagh Kilcoyne/Reuters
Puck Fair goat Ireland
People watch from a window as a wild goat is paraded through the town of Killorglin Clodagh Kilcoyne/Reuters
Puck Fair goat Ireland
Lady-in-Waiting to the Queen Puck, Caoilinn Foley, 13, accompanies the goat during a parade through Killorglin Clodagh Kilcoyne/Reuters

The goat is crowned King Puck and put into a small cage on the top of a tall tower in middle of the town square, where he is kept for the duration of the festival – three days. There's a horse market on the first day and a cattle market on the second, and plenty of drinking and carousing throughout.

Puck Fair goat Ireland
A crown is affixed to a wild goat as it is crowned King Puck Clodagh Kilcoyne/Reuters
Puck Fair goat Ireland
The newly crowned King Puck goat is hoisted to the top of a platform above the town of Killorglin where it will be held for the duration of Puck Fair, which is three days Clodagh Kilcoyne/Reuters
Puck Fair goat Ireland
Cousins Jim and Kit Flanagan attend the Puck Fair in Killorglin Clodagh Kilcoyne/Reuters
Puck Fair goat Ireland
Children drive a miniature pony and trap on the first day of the Puck Fair in Killorglin, County Kerry Clodagh Kilcoyne/Reuters
Puck Fair goat Ireland
The O'Sullivan family wait by their van on the first day of Puck Fair which begins with a horse market and the crowning of a goat as King Clodagh Kilcoyne/Reuters
Puck Fair goat Ireland
Noel McIlwaine from Galway pets his horse on the first day of Puck Fair which begins with a horse market Clodagh Kilcoyne/Reuters
Puck Fair goat Ireland
A woman waits on a street with her newly purchased pony on the first day of Puck Fair Clodagh Kilcoyne/Reuters
Puck Fair goat Ireland
A man holds his horse by its tail on the first day of Puck Fair Clodagh Kilcoyne/Reuters

At the end of the festival, King Puck is brought down from the tower, dethroned, and returned to his mountain home. The origins of Puck Fair (from Aonach an Phoic, meaning "Fair of the Billy-Goat") are unclear, but it dates back at least 400 years. King James I issued a charter granting legal status to the fair in 1603.

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