This is a patriotic fighting song that uses a mad, ferocious goat as a symbol for the fighting and undominable spirit of the Irish.

Each year in Killorglin, Co. Kerry (in the month of Lunasa) August 10th, a Puck Fair is held. The Puck, a wild mountain goat, with decorated horns, is paraded through the streets with rapturous applause and cheering. On arrival at the town square he is crowned and then ceremoniously raised on a scaffold platform some twenty five feet high. The Puck resides here for the next three days and nights looking down on his subjects. The well-known song An Poc ar buile, 'The Mad Puck Goat', is associated with the festival which dates from the seventeenth century.

At that time, a herd of goats was grazing on a high peak, when the noisy throng of Cromwell’s army shattered their peace. Alarmed and frightened, the goats scattered and ran into the hills - all of them that is except for one brave male who ran down the mountain and into Killorglin. The local people on seeing the goat sensed something was wrong and took cover. The people of Killorglin survived and have commemorated the event by holding the fair ever since.

Ag gabháil dom sior chun Droichead Uí Mhóradha Píce im dhóid 's mé ag dul i meithil Cé casfaí orm i gcuma ceoidh Ach pocán crón is é ar buile... curfá Ailliliú, puilliliú, ailliliú tá an puc ar buile! Ailliliú, puilliliú, ailliliú tá an puc ar buile! Do ritheamar trasna trí ruillógach, Is do ghluais an comhrac ar fud na muinge, Is treascairt do bhfuair sé sna turtóga Chuas ina ainneoin ina dhrom le fuinneamh... curfá Níor fhág sé carraig go raibh scót ann Ná gur rith le fórsa chun mé a mhilleadh, S'Ansan sea do cháith sé an léim ba mhó. Le fána mhór na Faille Bríce... curfá Bhí garda mór i mBaile an Róistigh Is bhailigh fórsa chun sinn a chlipeadh Do bhuail sé rop dá adhairc sa tóin ann S'dá bhríste nua do dhein sé giobail... curfá I nDaingean Uí Chúis le haghaidh an tráthnóna Bhí an sagart paróiste amach 'nár gcoinnibh Is é dúirt gurbh é an diabhal ba Dhóigh leis A ghaibh an treo ar phocán buile... curfá

As I set out with me pike in hand To Dromore town to join a meithil (work gang), * Who should I meet but a tan puck goat And he's roaring mad in ferocious mettle. Chorus Aill-il-lu puill-il-iu - Aill-il-lu it's the mad puck goat. Aill-il-lu puill-il-iu - Aill-il-lu it's the mad puck goat. He chased me over bush and weed And thru the bog the running proceeded, 'Til he caught his horns in a clump of gorse And on his back I jumped unheeded. Chorus He did not leave a rock that had a passage through Which he did not run with force to destroy me And then he gave the greatest leap To the big slope of Faille Bríce... Chorus When the sergeant stood in Rochestown With a force of guards to apprehend us The goat he tore his trousers down *** And made rags of his breeches and new suspenders Chorus In Dingle Town the next afternoon The parish priest addressed the meeting And swore it was The Devil himself He'd seen ridin' on the poc ar buile Chorus

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* A Meithil (pronounced MEH-hill) is a group of neighbors who come to work on a neighborhood farm.
The tradition is native to Kerry and may have died out by the present time.
The tradition is alive and well in the USA where it is called a barn raising.
** I have it on good authority that this song is actually a satire with the goat representing a local vicar, known for his unusual behavior.
*** The Irish is more specific and says: "adhairc sa tóin ann"

Courtesy of Vivian and Jack: IrishPage.com 2024
Replay background music: Jigsong sequenced by Taylor

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