I hate to say it but it seemed like they were celebrating the All- Ireland Victory already, they are mighty men (and wags) all the same and the Cork lads had better beware, these guys are a breed all of their own.

Puck Fair

Staying with the Kingdom I am just back from Puck Fair in Killorglin where I watched the old goat being de-throned and led back to the mountains of Glenbeigh concluding another festival that actually dates back to Cromwell's time in Ireland in the early 1600s.

The town turns into a mass of stalls, food sellers, bursting pubs, music session and a funfair. I remember as a child the most excitement was to be got from the bumper cars at Pipers in Crosshaven, these days its an entirely different ball game, where kids are happy to queue up, pay money and have there inside turned into their outside at the speed of the space shuttle re-entering earth's orbit. Curry and chips, candy floss, Nike copy gear at a fiver, dodgy watches, donkeys walking out of pubs, travellers in their best gear and full of style showing what travellers do best, trade.

In all sorts of weather the people gather in Killorglin for Puck Fair, buying and selling horses and ponies, cattle and sheep. Here mountainy men make their annual pilgrimage to town to meet old friends, drink porter and catch up on old times. It's a magic town.

Next stop, America

Last word from this Kerry Special goes to St Brendan the navigator. Yesterday morning I stood on the cliffs of Paris, on Valentia, where in 501 AD St Brendan the Navigator, well into his 80s at the time, climbed ashore to baptise two dying locals before climbing back aboard his currach and sailing across the Atlantic to discover America.

I told you these Kerry men are not like the rest of us! His well is still here 1,500 years later in perfect condition. This is an amazing place, next stop America.

If you ever saw the Guinness ad with the song "Do you know the way to San Jose?", this is where it was filmed. One of the most westerly points of Europe and just up along is the tetrapod track, where 80 million years ago a giant lizard climbed out of the sea leaving his claw marks behind for all to see.

This was one of the first arrivals of the cousins of Man, on earth.

Comments (1) »

kerryman
written by o connor, August 18, 2008

jealous langer!!!!!!!!!

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