Slow trading fails to rein in spirit of Puck

WEATHER-BEATEN men with sticks and quaint headgear were much in evidence yesterday as the renowned Puck Fair kicked off three days of jollity and high spirits.

However, even the famous Killorglin, Co Kerry fair cannot escape that spoilsport known as the recession, and trading was reported to be far slower than in the years of the departed Celtic Tiger.

The money splashed out on horses during the boom is no longer there and, as the day wore on, some people standing in the mud in Evans’ field were resigned to taking their animals home again.