ORGANISERS HAVE INDICATED that the wild mountain goat remained in its cage at the Puck Fair in Co Kerry despite the warm weather today.

Organisers said the goat was fine and did not need to be removed from its cage before his scheduled exit at 5pm today.

The Puck Fair, held in Killorglin, is one of Ireland’s oldest festivals.

Concerns over the goat’s welfare dominated the coverage of the festival in 2022, after it had to be taken down a number of times from the platform due to concerns over its welfare.

The 2022 festival took place during a heatwave, with a high of 30 degrees recorded.

The Department of Agriculture received close to 200 contacts to its Animal Welfare Helpline in relation to the 2022 event.

Up to 2022, a goat was crowned King and put on a 50 foot tall platform before being taken down and set free or ‘de-throned’.

However, the time spent on the platform was significantly reduced in 2023 and since to short appearances at the start and end of the festival. 

During the opening and closing ceremonies, of this years festivals the goat was raised for no more than two hours.

Today at 5pm, King Puck was removed from his cage and dethroned as planned.

A representative for the festival said: “There is a beautiful breeze amidst the sunshine on the streets of the town.”

“King Puck will be dethroned by 5pm today and will go home for a well earned rest after a cracking festival!” the spokesperson added.

Today, Killorglin was forecast to reach highs of 21 to 27 degrees. Met Éireann had also forecast light to moderate wind.

The Department of Agriculture said the organisers of the fair communicated a plan regarding the treatment of the goat, including veterinary inspection of the animal before, during and after being put up in the stand, and plans in the case of hot weather.

It said: “During the opening and closing ceremonies, the goat was raised for no more than two hours and subsequently removed and returned to a farm by experienced Puck Fair Handlers. He was returned to his accommodation in a ventilated and bedded livestock trailer.”