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.

Kevin O’Doherty, of Newcastlewest, Co Limerick, was in the middle of the action with a three-year-old chestnut filly for which he was asking €1,500.

“Two, or three year ago, I’d be expecting €3,000 for an animal like that. However, that money is all gone now,” he conceded, resignedly. “The best offer I’ve had so far today is €1,100. I’m not inclined to sell for that, but you’d never know what might happen before evening.”

Well-used riding horses were reported to be selling well, but buyers were interested only in quality animals. Mr O’Doherty said a good horse with pedigree will always sell, but he added that there is a surplus of horses in Ireland.

“There are a lot of unbroken two and three-year-olds out there which should be coming onto the market, but the demand isn’t there,” he said.

Perhaps the smallest animals at the fair were two tiny Falabella horses, described as ideal pets for children, or old people.

Michael and Linda Galvin, of Beaufort, Co Kerry, breed Falabellas and stood proudly with their two sibling mares which should reach a maximum height of 27 inches.

“Falabellas are Argentinian in origin and are a rare breed. They are miniature horses rather than ponies. They have the complete features of a horse,” Michael explained.

Away from the actual fair, it’s in the town of Killorglin itself that most of the colour, craic and hoopla goes on. Crowds, however, were said to be down on previous years.

Stallholders selling anything from the latest cooking utensils, to CDs, to perfumes, to cheap plastic toys and an unbelieveable range of “bling” lined the streets.

This year, the street traders have a multi-national look about them.

There were open-air bargain rails, sales galore and bankruptcy clear-outs where everything has to be sold – at any price.

With customers keeping a tighter hold on their hard-earned cash, some of the traders reported business to be slow, but hoped thousands of free-spending revellers would pour into Killorglin for the three nights.

Local pubs, which remain open until three o’clock each morning, were all set for a bonanza.

Last night, a male mountain goat, named King Billy, was crowned King Puck and lifted onto a 50ft platform in the town square, from where he will “preside” over the centuries-old fair.

The goat was captured some weeks ago near Ballycastle, Co Antrim, and is the first from Northern Ireland totake the place of honour at the fair.