Goat crowned 'King of Ireland'

by **emad** » Thu Aug 11, 2005 11:26 am

By Kevin Smith 11aug05 A WILD mountain goat was crowned King of Ireland overnight in an annual ritual whose origins are lost in the mists of history. For three days, Charlie, a grey billygoat with brown trimmings, will reign over this year's Puck Fair - one of Ireland's oldest and best-loved street festivals - in Killorglin, in the south-western county of Kerry. "Nobody really knows how it came about or when," said Jean Kearney, a spokeswoman for the festival, which is expected this year to attract more than 100,000 visitors for a marathon of music, drinking and dancing. "It has been traced back to the 1600s, but some say it dates back to a festival held in pagan times." One theory is that the event pays tribute to a wild goat that alerted the town to the advancing armies of English military leader Oliver Cromwell in the 17th century. Another is that it stems from the pagan Celtic festival of Lughnasa, when feasting and sacrifices marked the start of the harvest season, and that the goat is a pagan fertility symbol. "For the people round here it's no exaggeration to say the Puck Fair is almost as important as Christmas," Kearney said. "It attracts thousands of tourists but it's also a huge homecoming for Kerry people who have moved away. The atmosphere is just magical." Charlie, or King Puck to give him his official title, will later be raised up on an elevated platform in the centre of the town square where, from a 15 metre height, he will look down on his loyal subjects for the duration of the fair. On Friday he will relinquish his gold crown and return to the mountains of Kerry where he was captured last week by local man Frank Joy - chief goat catcher for the past 15 years. The festival, which also includes a traditional horse fair, open-air concerts, and firework displays, is expected to generate around 7 million euros ($11.4 million) for the local economy <a href="http://www.couriermail.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5936,16222642%255E1702,00.html">www.couriermail.news.com....02,00.html</a>

by **enkidu** » Thu Aug 11, 2005 7:18 pm

He smiles in a mirror, shrinking the whole Sun-swung zodiac of light to a trinket shape On the rise of his eye: it is a role In which he can fling a cape, And outloom life like Faustus. But once when On an empty mountain slope A black goat clattered and ran Toward him, and set forefeet firm on a rock Above and looked down A square-pupiled yellow-eyed look, The black devil head against the blue air, What gigantic fingers took Him up and on a bare Palm turned him close under an eye That was like a living hanging hemisphere And watched his blood's gleam with a ray Slow and cold and ferocious as a star Till the goat clattered away.

by **hanshan** » Thu Aug 11, 2005 7:33 pm

A WILD mountain goat was crowned King of Ireland overnight in an annual ritual whose origins are lost in the mists of history. Probably a better choice that what they have by proxy. Eh? For three days, Charlie, a grey billygoat with brown trimmings, will reign over this year's Puck Fair - one of Ireland's oldest and best-loved street festivals - in Killorglin, in the south-western county of Kerry. Sounds like scads of fun. Would love to attend. One theory is that the event pays tribute to a wild goat that alerted the town to the advancing armies of English military leader Oliver Cromwell in the 17th century. Heh. Leave it to a goat to outwit that blackshirt Cromwell. Another is that it stems from the pagan Celtic festival of Lughnasa, when feasting and sacrifices marked the start of the harvest season, and that the goat is a pagan fertility symbol. True enough. Charlie, or King Puck to give him his official title, will later be raised up on an elevated platform in the centre of the town square where, from a 15 metre height, he will look down on his loyal subjects for the duration of the fair. Would that the Brits had such a magnanimous leader. The festival, which also includes a traditional horse fair, open-air concerts, and firework displays,... Still great fun to be had across the pond. Thanks emad for a delightful read. ...

by **ZeroHaven** » Thu Aug 11, 2005 7:37 pm

Faunus the roman goat god had a very rigid p%!@k and if you ever saw it you would say it's quite a trick. All of the other deities used to laugh and call him names. They never let ol' Faunus join in any Solstice games! Then one foggy Saturnal... (ok that's enough) ----- Winter solstice carolling at college was so much fun! Gotta applaud these people for holding up traditional values, even if they're not sure of the origins. <img src="http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a239/ZeroHaven/tinhat.gif"/>

by **hanshan** » Thu Aug 11, 2005 7:52 pm

<img src="http://members.aol.com/Ecclasia1/Assets/PanPsycheBurneJones.jpg" style="border:0;"/> knowing & doing - sometimes a serendipitous disconnect ....

by **emad** » Fri Aug 12, 2005 12:10 pm

My Pet Goat has a lot to answer for hanshan! Glad you enjoyed.....

Goat crowned 'King of Ireland'

Goat crowned 'King of Ireland'

Meeting by Ted Hughes

re: King of Ireland

pagans, goats, hazzar!

re: solstice funs...

Re: re: King of Ireland

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