logo
Puck Fair's late-night drinking tradition survives garda objections

Puck Fair's late-night drinking tradition survives garda objections

Irish Examiner4 days ago
Puck Fair, one of Ireland's oldest festivals, where a goat is crowned king for three days and three nights, will see its late-night drinking tradition survive for 2025 after an appeal by publicans in Killorglin succeeded in the Circuit Court in Killarney on Tuesday.
On July 10 at the District Court of Killorglin, sitting in Caherciveen, 14 publicans applied under Section 10 of the Intoxicating Liquor Act 1962 for the annual special exemption to 3am over the three principal nights of the August Fair, Gathering, Fair and Scattering, on August 10, 11 and 12.
However, gardaí objected on the grounds of straitened resources. District court Judge David Waters set the opening at 2am, in line with the Garda submission, saying the fair was not all about drinking.
On Tuesday in the circuit court in Killarney, Judge Terence O'Sullivan said he saw no grounds to shorten Puck Fair's traditional drinking time to 2am.
Puck Fair dated to 1603, the last year of the reign of King James I of England, Judge O'Sullivan noted. Since the 1970s, the pub closing time at Puck was 3am.
'Bigger than Christmas'
'Prior to that, there was a 24-hour opening of the pubs in Killorglin,' barrister Katie O'Connell, instructed by John O'Dwyer solicitor, had told the court.
All day and family activities took place and afterwards people would go for a drink. Street entertainment ended at midnight and then the fair volunteers would like to go for a drink to relax and enjoy themselves, Ms O'Connell said. Puck Fair was 'bigger than Christmas" for people from region, the barrister said.
'Chipping away' at the status of the festival was taking place. The statue of the Puck Goat sat at the entrance to the town and economically the festival was important to Killorglin, with people put through college and school on the strength of the fair..
Only the gardaí, not the locals, had objected, Ms O'Connell also said.
Garda objections
Garda Supt John Ryan of Killarney was called to give evidence by State solicitor Diane Reidy. The garda objections were twofold, Supt Ryan said.
Pubs were given an exemption to open to 2am the night preceding Puck Fair and the garda felt that four nights to 2am would be sufficient given the street entertainment finished at midnight.
Having pubs open to 3am needed additional police resources. It was reasonable to reduce it by the hour, he felt. Cross-examined by Ms O'Connell, Supt Ryan agreed the fair was "the lifeblood of Killorglin".
Ms O'Connell also told Judge O'Sullivan that the organisers of the festival - who are all volunteers - did not want everyone spilling out from the pubs at 2am and the extra hour would mean there was safer dispersal and organisation of buses and taxis.
'It's always been 3am. Nothing warrants the reduction,' she said.
While she appreciated the extra garda resources was paid for through taxes, the Killorglin community were also tax payers. The festival organisers contributed €3,000 to the resources of the gardaí, she said.
'Judge Waters thought the front line (policing) should trump anything else,' she said.
State solicitor Diane Reidy said the issue was one of resources, not public order and Puck Fair was the only festival in Kerry seeking to open to 3am.
'It's the proper allocation of resources and the additional strain on Garda resources to police it,' Ms Reidy said.
Judge's decision
In his decision, delivered after a recess to look at the legislation, Judge O'Sullivan said the traditional opening had been to 3am, there was no evidence of anyone in the locality objecting on noise or nuisance grounds.
'In reality the objection is about the pressure on police resources without any particular incident,' the judge said.
Judge O'Sullivan said he appreciated the District Court Judge had "more connection" with the locality than himself, but he did not see any grounds to depart from the tradition, he said, granting the exemptions to 3am over three nights.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

MMA fighter accused of corruption involving garda bribes is sent for trial
MMA fighter accused of corruption involving garda bribes is sent for trial

Sunday World

time9 hours ago

  • Sunday World

MMA fighter accused of corruption involving garda bribes is sent for trial

It follows a probe by the anti-corruption unit, and the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) had also directed trial on indictment. MMA fighter Charlie Ward has been returned for trial accused of corruption offences involving "confidential" Garda information and helping to pervert the course of justice. The mixed martial artist, 44, of Acragar, Mountmellick and co-accused Noel Carroll, 57, of Ballyfinn Road, Portlaoise, both Co Laois, appeared at Dublin District Court yesterday when the gardaí served them with books of evidence. It follows a probe by the anti-corruption unit, and the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) had also directed trial on indictment. Charlie Ward News in 90 Seconds - July 26th Judge Gerard Jones granted an order, sending them forward for trial to the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, which has wider sentencing powers and where the case will be listed for mention on October 16. The defendants, who have yet to enter a plea, did not address the court and were warned by the judge to notify the prosecution within 14 days if they intend to use an alibi. Gardaí must also furnish the defence with copies of interview videos. Legal aid was granted. Earlier, Detective Sergeant Paul Dowling and Kieran Kilcoyne said the two men "made no reply" when charged. The pair face charges contrary to section 5 of the 2018 Criminal Justice (Corruption Offences) Act about requests for information concerning three men. According to the court documents, on March 2, 2022, at an unknown location in the state, both men corruptly requested a gift, consideration or advantage on account of a named garda requesting that confidential information relating to another person be obtained and disclosed. Mr Ward is accused of the same type of offence on February 28, 2022, about Garda information on a second male. Another charge states that on the previous day, Mr Ward corruptly offered the same officer an inducement for doing an act in relation to his employment as a member of An Garda Síochána. Mr Ward is also accused of an offence under section 7 of the Criminal Law Act 1997. That alleges that between October 15 -17, 2019, when another person committed an arrestable offence, namely, perverting the course of justice, that he "did aid, abet, counsel or procure the commission of this offence". It is alleged that on January 26, 2022, at an unknown location, Mr Carroll corruptly requested a gift consideration or advantage on account of the garda seeking confidential information about a search operation at the home of a third named man.

MMA fighter Charlie Ward (44) and co-accused face trial over Garda corruption offences
MMA fighter Charlie Ward (44) and co-accused face trial over Garda corruption offences

Irish Times

time16 hours ago

  • Irish Times

MMA fighter Charlie Ward (44) and co-accused face trial over Garda corruption offences

Former MMA fighter Charlie Ward has been returned for trial accused of corruption offences involving 'confidential' Garda information and helping to pervert the course of justice. The mixed martial artist (44) of Acragar, Mountmellick, and co-accused Noel Carroll (57) of Ballyfinn Road, Portlaoise, both Co Laois, appeared at Dublin District Court on Friday when the gardaí served them with books of evidence. It follows a probe by the anti-corruption unit , and the Director of Public Prosecutions had also directed trial on indictment. Judge Gerard Jones granted an order sending them forward for trial to the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, which has wider sentencing powers and where the case will be listed for mention on October 16th. READ MORE The defendants, who have yet to enter a plea, did not address the court and were warned by the judge to notify the prosecution within 14 days if they intend to use an alibi. Gardaí must also furnish the defence with copies of interview videos. Legal aid was granted. Earlier, Det Sgts Paul Dowling and Kieran Kilcoyne said the two men 'made no reply' when charged. The pair face charges contrary to section 5 of the 2018 Criminal Justice (Corruption Offences) Act regarding requests for information concerning three men. According to the court documents, on March 2nd, 2022, at an unknown location in the State, both men corruptly requested a gift, consideration or advantage on account of a named garda requesting that confidential information relating to another person be obtained and disclosed. [ Man charged with assault at IPAS centre ordered not to incite hate on social media Opens in new window ] Mr Ward is accused of the same type of offence on February 28th 2022, about Garda information on a second male. Another charge states that on the previous day, Mr Ward corruptly offered the same officer an inducement for doing an act in relation to his employment as a member of An Garda Síochána. [ Kinahan crime boss ordered to pay back £1 million or face more jail time Opens in new window ] Mr Ward is also accused of an offence under section 7 of the Criminal Law Act 1997. This alleges that between October 15th-17th, 2019, when another person committed an arrestable offence, namely, perverting the course of justice, that he 'did aid, abet, counsel or procure the commission of this offence'. It is alleged that on January 26th, 2022, at an unknown location, Mr Carroll corruptly requested a gift consideration or advantage on account of the garda seeking confidential information about a search operation at the home of a third named man.

Man arrested following seizure of ecstasy tablets worth €235,000 in Monaghan
Man arrested following seizure of ecstasy tablets worth €235,000 in Monaghan

Irish Daily Mirror

timea day ago

  • Irish Daily Mirror

Man arrested following seizure of ecstasy tablets worth €235,000 in Monaghan

A man has been arrested following the seizure of ecstasy tablets worth around €235,000 in Monaghan today. The drugs were discovered at a residence during a targeted joint operation involving members of An Garda Síochána and Revenue's Customs Service. A man aged in his 20s was arrested at the scene and is currently being detained at a Garda station in the northwest under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984. He can be questioned for up to 24 hours. The MDMA seized at the property, which has an estimated street value of €235,000, will be sent to Forensic Science Ireland for analysis, and investigations are ongoing. The joint operation involved officers from the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau, Monaghan Divisional Drugs Unit, and Revenue's Customs Service. A spokesperson for Revenue said the intelligence-led operation was part of the agency's ongoing efforts in the area. "The seizure is part of Revenue's ongoing work targeting smuggling and shadow economy activity," they said. "If businesses or members of the public have any information, they can contact Revenue in confidence on 1800 295 295." A Garda spokesperson said investigations were continuing following today's seizure. "In the course of a joint operation conducted by the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau (GNDOCB), Monaghan Divisional Drugs Unit and Revenue officers, a residential property in Monaghan was searched today, 25th July 2025," they said. "MDMA tablets with an estimated street value of €235,000 (pending analysis) were seized. "A male in his 20s was arrested at the scene and is currently being detained at a station in the Garda North Western Region under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984," they confirmed. Subscribe to our newsletter for the latest news from the Irish Mirror direct to your inbox: Sign up here.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store