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music · Monday 10 August 2026 · Various 
Puck Fair - Live Music & Entertainment
At Killorglin Town Centre · Main Street, Killorglin, Co. Kerry
At Killorglin Town Centre · Main Street, Killorglin, Co. Kerry
Puck Fair is one of the oldest festivals in Ireland - some accounts trace it back over 400 years - and it remains one of the most genuinely strange and enjoyable. For three days each August, Killorglin fills with music, markets, street performers, and up to 100,000 visitors, all anchored by an unusual ritual: a wild mountain goat, caught in the surrounding hills, is crowned King Puck and installed on a raised platform in the town square, where he presides over the whole proceedings until his release on the final evening. It is free to attend, unashamedly loud, and suits anyone from young families looking for a day out to trad music lovers who will happily follow a session from one pub to the next until midnight.
The three days follow a loose structure: the first day (Gathering Day, 10 August) brings the coronation parade and the crowning ceremony on the square, along with the arrival of traders and the first wave of entertainment. Fair Day and Scattering Day build on this with continuous live music across multiple stages - the Town Plaza Stage, The Square, and a roaming stage truck - running from mid-morning until around 11:30pm each night. Acts span traditional Irish music, céilí bands, and contemporary performers; the exact 2026 line-up is released closer to the festival, so check puckfair.ie for the confirmed programme.
Beyond the stages, the street scene is half the draw: buskers, artisan food stalls selling Kerry cheeses, seafood and baked goods, a craft fair, face painting, a funfair, a pet show, and a horse fair that draws dealers and breeders from across Munster. The festival closes on the evening of 12 August with a fireworks display.
Killorglin sits on the N72, roughly 20km west of Killarney and a similar distance south of Tralee on the N70. By car from Killarney it is a straightforward 25-30 minute drive through the mountains. There is no direct rail link; the nearest train station is Killarney, from which taxis and occasional shuttle buses run during the festival. Parking is available at designated car parks around the town (Annadale Road is one of the main spots) at around €10 cash - bring coins. The town gets extremely busy on all three days; arriving early in the morning gives you the best chance of a reasonable spot.
Killorglin itself sits on the River Laune where it opens out toward Dingle Bay, and the surrounding landscape - the MacGillycuddy’s Reeks to the south-east, the Iveragh Peninsula curving west - repays an extra day’s exploration. There is more to see in Killorglin and across Co. Kerry.
Heading to Killorglin Town Centre in Killorglin? Kerry has plenty more to see. Read the Killorglin area guide, find what else is on, and explore the towns and villages nearby.