One of Ireland's oldest fairs has come under fire from animal rights campaigners for keeping its star - a wild goat - on a three-day high.
ARAN yesterday called on organisers of the Puck Fair, which takes place on August 10-12 in Killorglin, Co Kerry, to end the tradition of putting a puck or male goat into a cage and lifting it 60 feet in the air during the festivities.
The charity's spokesman John Carmody claimed the practice may breach the Republic's animal welfare legislation on ensuring creatures are free from hunger, third, discomfort, fear and distress.
"ARAN is urging the good folk of Killorglin to stand with us and compassionate people across Ireland who now agree that tradition should never be used to justify animal suffering.
"The puck is a wild animal who doesn't understand the loud noise, bright lights, and thousands of people in front of him, and he certainly doesn't understand being hoisted into the air and left there to dangle over a weekend. We're encouraging the festival goers to get with the times and take the puck out of the fair, because if you wouldn't do it your dog, why do it to a goat?" Mr Carmody said.
However, Kerry TD Michael Healy Rae claimed the captured goats were well treated during their time as `King Puck', getting treated for parasites and being fed on cabbages and ash branches.
Speaking on RTÉ radio's Morning Ireland, the deputy insisted the goat was "under constant supervision of a vet and very responsible people".
