The wild goat at this year's Puck Fair in Killorglin may be given a fan to cool him down, the fair's spokesperson has said.
If necessary, the animal will also be taken down a level if the heat gets too much, Declan Falvey told RTÉ's Liveline, where animal rights activists and others expressed concern for the animal whose coronation takes place on Wednesday amid a heatwave.
Traditionally, the wild goat spends the bulk of three days and three nights on the 50-foot stand overlooking the town for the festival, which takes place each year on 10, 11 and 12 August.
The puck is looked after by a team of goat catchers. A local vet monitors the goat’s health and he is given a full health check before his coronation and being hoisted on the stand.
As well as being fed, he is inoculated.
"The water is changed on a regular basis and a local farmer sources the best of heather," Mr Falvey said.
"We will make sure we will look after the goat," Mr Falvey said.
A fan will be on board the cage this year.
However, callers to Liveline said goats were not able to cope with heat; they panted a lot and would be unable to drink.
Mr Falvey insisted that "this is a wild mountain goat, used to living on heights".
"A shaggy coat" insulated and protected him.
"We will do everything in our power and if it means keeping him down we will keep him down," he said.
The goat is a hardy animal and the breeze from up high would keep him cool, he also said.
In recent years, the cage has been made bigger.
"I uphold the tradition as best we can," Mr Falvey said.
The goat is very well looked after, said a spokesperson for the Killorglin Chamber of Commerce. "There is no distress to the animal."
Concerns were first raised about the welfare of the puck goat in 2015 when an animal rights organisation said the goat’s capture and confinement was wrong under the provisions of the 2013 Animal Health and Welfare Act.
ARAN, the Animal Rights Action Network, says their concerns spanned the range of the festival – the catching of a wild goat, parading it through the town and exposing it to noise and drunken revelry.
The at least 400-year-old event at the foothills of the MacGillycuddy's Reeks is back this year after a Covid-induced hiatus.
Visitors are already gathering in advance of the crowning of King Puck on Wednesday.
The goat was captured in the Reeks mountains, and is multicoloured.
Veterinary inspections have taken place already and organisers say the goat's health will continue to be monitored.
