The 2005 King Puck - a grey goat with cashmere brown trimmings, has been caught after an epic chase spanning almost five days.
After a feed of willow, ash and wild herb yesterday King Puck was presented to the cameras. He is to be named King Charlie, a name that is "open" to interpretation as referring to Prince Charles, Charles Haughey or Charlie McCreevy, chief goat-catcher Frank Joy said.
At one stage Mr Joy despaired of catching any wild goat this year, he admitted yesterday.
In more than 1,000 years of Puck Fair, wild goats had never been so scarce, Mr Joy said, blaming their retreat on the growth in one-off housing, much of it holiday homes. "Too much development is spoiling the countryside. There are very few unspoilt areas left."
The French-Irish team of goat-catchers had to reach the cliffs overlooking Dingle Bay at Kells before coming near any suitable puck. They finally caught him near Rossbeigh. For the first time the hunt was co-ordinated by search team members using radio equipment.
It began on Wednesday in the Glencar valley on the mountains overlooking Caragh lake, now one of the most expensive and sought-after property locations in Kerry.
The team searched the wild, unspoilt countryside of the Lord of the Rings-style valley at the foot of Carrauntoohil until well after dark, but were forced to abandon the chase.
"You wouldn't get them [ the goats] out with a helicopter," Mr Joy said.
At Keelkeigh near Kells, they came within 10 feet of a "beautiful black-and- white puck" but he scaled a ledge directly underneath them and it was too dangerous to attempt to catch him.
On Sunday, in a hunt which began on the Seefin mountain - where for the first time there was no herd of wild goats - they spotted their quarry over the Rossbeigh Inn and in full glare of sunbathers.
As has been the case in the past, the hunt had an Irish-French contingent and included Frank Joy, Michael Hoare, Paul Mevel and Franck Guerineau. The fair begins on August 10th and will draw and estimated 100,000 visitors. King Charlie will be crowned by 12-year-old Niamh O'Connor, this year's Queen Puck.
Meanwhile, acting county council area engineer Des Fitzgerald has denied claims of the fair being struck by a water shortage. Kerry County Council does not anticipate a water shortage during Puck Fair. There had been a problem, but that was more than a fortnight ago.
However, reservoirs are now full due to recent heavy rainfall and broken pipes have also been replaced, Mr Fitzgerald said.