THOUSANDS who made the annual pilgrimage to Co Kerry's famous Puck Fair this year may have enjoyed many a light-hearted moment, but one which caused the most titters centred around a pair of false teeth found in the toilets of a Kilorglin pub.
The set of upper teeth were found in Kingston's bar during a clean-up and owner, Erwin Kingston, quickly posted an appeal on Facebook to reunite them with their absent owners.
And, as he told the Irish News, he couldn't believe the response, with the post promptly going viral after "putting a smile on everyone's face".
"The reaction of people who 'liked' the post and were keen to reunite the teeth with their owners was phenomenal and, for me, really sums up the whole ethos of the Puck Fair," Mr Kingston said.
"It was really very funny as out of all the things we find in the pub after this event, false teeth have never figured in the lost-and-found pile.
"I am quite active on social media and when I took a photograph of the teeth and posted it on Facebook, it was quite a flippant gesture. I never expected people to react the way they did, especially people in the north who have a fantastic sense of humour."
Luckily, not long after closing time the teeth were handed back - but Mr Kingston, ever the discreet businessman, is staying silent on the owner's identity.
"All I can tell you is that I spotted him outside the bar later in the evening and handed him back the teeth," he said. "He is a regular here and had taken forty winks during the revelry. I had a feeling they could be his.
"He didn't say a whole lot and I don't think he is fully aware yet of how he silently contributed to the spirit of this year's Puck Fair."
The popular event is rooted in a pagan festival stretching back over 400 years but attracts intermittent criticism from animal rights campaigners due to a wild male goat being crowned King Puck for the duration.
But the goat - whose crown also went temporarily missing before Monday's opening ceremony - is well looked after, according to Mr Kingston, a former member of the Puck Fair organising committee.
"The goat really is treated like a king and people should come along next year and see for themselves."
Thousands of people travelled to Kilorglin for the three-day, three-night festival which began with a horse fair and ended with the 'taking down of the goat' yesterday.
"The 'Puck' is exclusive to Kerry " Mr Kingston added. "It is part of the social calendar here and people talk about it like they would Christmas - whatever you do, it will be pre-Puck or post-Puck.
"I haven't had any sleep yet and I'm off to bed now. I wouldn't really be that surprised if I wake up and more false teeth have been found. It is that sort of festival.
"It is truly unique and I would encourage our friends in the north to definitely mark it in their diaries for a visit next year."
