logo
Puck Fair's late-night drinking tradition survives garda objections

Puck Fair's late-night drinking tradition survives garda objections

Irish Examiner21 hours ago
Puck Fair, one of Ireland's oldest festivals, where a goat is crowned king for three days and three nights, will see its late-night drinking tradition survive for 2025 after an appeal by publicans in Killorglin succeeded in the Circuit Court in Killarney on Tuesday.
On July 10 at the District Court of Killorglin, sitting in Caherciveen, 14 publicans applied under Section 10 of the Intoxicating Liquor Act 1962 for the annual special exemption to 3am over the three principal nights of the August Fair, Gathering, Fair and Scattering, on August 10, 11 and 12.
However, gardaí objected on the grounds of straitened resources. District court Judge David Waters set the opening at 2am, in line with the Garda submission, saying the fair was not all about drinking.
On Tuesday in the circuit court in Killarney, Judge Terence O'Sullivan said he saw no grounds to shorten Puck Fair's traditional drinking time to 2am.
Puck Fair dated to 1603, the last year of the reign of King James I of England, Judge O'Sullivan noted. Since the 1970s, the pub closing time at Puck was 3am.
'Bigger than Christmas'
'Prior to that, there was a 24-hour opening of the pubs in Killorglin,' barrister Katie O'Connell, instructed by John O'Dwyer solicitor, had told the court.
All day and family activities took place and afterwards people would go for a drink. Street entertainment ended at midnight and then the fair volunteers would like to go for a drink to relax and enjoy themselves, Ms O'Connell said. Puck Fair was 'bigger than Christmas" for people from region, the barrister said.
'Chipping away' at the status of the festival was taking place. The statue of the Puck Goat sat at the entrance to the town and economically the festival was important to Killorglin, with people put through college and school on the strength of the fair..
Only the gardaí, not the locals, had objected, Ms O'Connell also said.
Garda objections
Garda Supt John Ryan of Killarney was called to give evidence by State solicitor Diane Reidy. The garda objections were twofold, Supt Ryan said.
Pubs were given an exemption to open to 2am the night preceding Puck Fair and the garda felt that four nights to 2am would be sufficient given the street entertainment finished at midnight.
Having pubs open to 3am needed additional police resources. It was reasonable to reduce it by the hour, he felt. Cross-examined by Ms O'Connell, Supt Ryan agreed the fair was "the lifeblood of Killorglin".
Ms O'Connell also told Judge O'Sullivan that the organisers of the festival - who are all volunteers - did not want everyone spilling out from the pubs at 2am and the extra hour would mean there was safer dispersal and organisation of buses and taxis.
'It's always been 3am. Nothing warrants the reduction,' she said.
While she appreciated the extra garda resources was paid for through taxes, the Killorglin community were also tax payers. The festival organisers contributed €3,000 to the resources of the gardaí, she said.
'Judge Waters thought the front line (policing) should trump anything else,' she said.
State solicitor Diane Reidy said the issue was one of resources, not public order and Puck Fair was the only festival in Kerry seeking to open to 3am.
'It's the proper allocation of resources and the additional strain on Garda resources to police it,' Ms Reidy said.
Judge's decision
In his decision, delivered after a recess to look at the legislation, Judge O'Sullivan said the traditional opening had been to 3am, there was no evidence of anyone in the locality objecting on noise or nuisance grounds.
'In reality the objection is about the pressure on police resources without any particular incident,' the judge said.
Judge O'Sullivan said he appreciated the District Court Judge had "more connection" with the locality than himself, but he did not see any grounds to depart from the tradition, he said, granting the exemptions to 3am over three nights.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Co Donegal businessman admits sexually assaulting 15-year-old girl
Co Donegal businessman admits sexually assaulting 15-year-old girl

Sunday World

timean hour ago

  • Sunday World

Co Donegal businessman admits sexually assaulting 15-year-old girl

The accused cannot be named at this stage of proceedings A Co Donegal businessman has pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting a 15-year-old girl. The man, who is in his 40s, appeared at Letterkenny Circuit Court. The accused, who cannot be named at this stage of proceedings, spoke only to plead guilty. He pleaded guilty to assaulting the girl by touching her on her breast and her vagina through her clothing. A second count was taken into consideration. The court was told the married businessman, who is also a father, employs a number of people in his business. He has no previous convictions. Letterkenny Circuit Court. Photo: North West News Pix News in 90 Seconds - July 23rd The court was told that the victim now resides outside of the country but was present in court for the brief arraignment. The charge is contrary to section 2 of the Criminal Law (Rape) (Amendment) Act, 1990. Ms Fiona Crawford BL, prosecutor for the State, said that the guilty plea to the count of sexual assault met the case on a full facts basis. Barrister for the accused man, Mr James McGowan SC, with Mr Peter Nolan BL, instructed by solicitor Mr Donough Cleary, said his client is a businessman with 'a number of employees'. The man's barrister requested a full Probation and Welfare Report on his client before final sentencing was passed. Judge Roderick Maguire granted the request and adjourned the case until October for sentencing. The victim, who was accompanied to court by a number of family members, was told she could attend the sentencing by videolink.

Gardaí appeal for witnesses after attack on man by group of youths in Tallaght
Gardaí appeal for witnesses after attack on man by group of youths in Tallaght

The Journal

time14 hours ago

  • The Journal

Gardaí appeal for witnesses after attack on man by group of youths in Tallaght

GARDAÍ ARE APPEALING for witnesses to an assault on a man by a group of youths in Tallaght over the weekend to come forward. The incident happened in the Parkhill Lawn area of Kilnamanagh in Tallaght, Dublin 24 at around 6pm on Saturday evening. The Indian man, who is aged in his 40s, was falsely accused of inappropriate behaviour and assaulted by a group of youths. He was stripped of his pants and underwear by the gang during the attack. Jennifer Murray, who lives in the area, said she and others came upon the man after the incident and helped him to receive treatment in the immediate aftermath. The man was subsequently brought to Tallaght University Hospital for treatment. Garda sources said they're satisfied the man was not behaving inappropriately and was wrongly targeted. Advertisement The incident has been condemned by a number of politicians. Gardaí said they are appealing to anyone who may have witnessed the assault to come forward. They are appealing to road users and pedestrians who may have camera footage, including dash-cam footage, of the incident, and who was travelling in the area between 6pm and 7pm on Saturday to make it available to them. 'Anyone who observed any unusual activity and/or anyone with information is asked to contact Tallaght Street Garda Station on (01) 666 6000, the Garda Confidential line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda Station,' a garda spokesperson said. The spokesperson added: 'An Garda Síochána is appealing to people to not post or reshare social media content including footage related to this incident in order to protect the privacy of the victim involved.' Investigations into the matter are ongoing. Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal

Puck Fair goers win fight to keep late-night drinking, after gardaí sought to shut pubs at 2am
Puck Fair goers win fight to keep late-night drinking, after gardaí sought to shut pubs at 2am

The Journal

time20 hours ago

  • The Journal

Puck Fair goers win fight to keep late-night drinking, after gardaí sought to shut pubs at 2am

PUCK FAIR, ONE of Ireland's oldest festivals, where a goat is crowned King for three days and three nights, will see its late-night drinking tradition survive for 2025 after an appeal by publicans in Killorglin succeeded in the Circuit Court in Killarney today. On 10 July at the District Court of Killorglin sitting in Cahersiveen, 14 publicans applied under Section 10 of the Intoxicating Liquor Act 1962 for the annual special exemption for the three principal nights of the fair on 10, 11 and 12 August. However, gardaí objected on the grounds of straitened resources. District Court Judge David Waters set the closing time at 2am, in line with the Garda submission, saying the fair was not all about drinking. Today in the Circuit Court in Killarney, Judge Terence O'Sullivan said he saw no grounds to restrict the Puck Fair's traditional drinking time, which has historically ended at 3am. Puck Fair dates to 1603 the last year of the reign of King James 1 of England, Judge O'Sullivan noted. Since the 1970s, the pub closing time at Puck was 3am. 'Prior to that, there was a 24-hour opening of the pubs in Killorglin,' barrister Katie O'Connell, instructed by John O'Dwyer solicitor, had told the court. Daytime and family activities took place and afterwards people would go for a drink. Street entertainment ended at midnight and then the fair volunteers go for a drink to relax and enjoy themselves, Ms O'Connell said. Puck Fair was 'bigger than Christmas' for people from the region, the barrister said. 'Chipping away' at the status of the festival was taking place. The statue of the Puck Goat sat at the entrance to the town and economically the festival was important to Killorglin, with people put through college and school on the strength of the fair. Only the gardaí, not the locals, had objected, Ms O'Connell also said. Advertisement Garda Supt John Ryan of Killarney was called to give evidence by State solicitor Diane Reidy. The garda objections were twofold, Supt. Ryan said. Pubs were given an exemption to open to 2am the night preceding Puck Fair and the garda felt that four nights of going until to 2am would be sufficient, given that street entertainment finished at midnight. Having pubs open to 3am needed additional police resources. It was reasonable to reduce it by an hour, he felt. Cross examined by Ms O'Connell, Supt Ryan agreed the fair was 'the lifeblood of Killorglin'. Ms O'Connell also told Judge O'Sullivan that organisers of the festival did not want everyone spilling out from the pubs at 2am, and the extra hour would mean there was safer dispersal and organisation of buses and taxis. 'It's always been 3am. Nothing warrants the reduction,' she said. While she appreciated the extra garda resources was paid for through taxes, the Killorglin community were also taxpayers. The festival organisers contributed 3,000 euro to the resources of the gardai, she said. 'Judge Waters thought the front line (policing) should trump anything else,' she said. State solicitor Diane Reidy said the issue was one of resources, not public order and Puck Fair was the only festival in Kerry seeking to open until 3am. 'It's the proper allocation of resources and the additional strain on garda resources to police it,' Ms Reidy said. In his decision, delivered after a recess to look at the legislation, Judge O'Sullivan said the traditional opening had been to 3am and there was no evidence of anyone in the locality objecting on noise or nuisance. 'In reality, the objection is about the pressure on police resources without any particular incident,' the judge said. Judge O'Sullivan said he appreciated the District Court Judge had 'more connection' with the locality than himself, but he did not see any grounds to depart from the tradition. Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store