Wild goats are becoming scarce in the Irish countryside and some are blaming bodhran players. It’s becoming more difficult each year to find a male mountain goat to preside over the annual Puck Fair in Killorglin, Co Kerry, according to chief goat-catcher Frank Joy.

This year, Frank and his team failed to find a goat on the first weekend they went searching in the foothills of the Kerry mountains, but eventually captured a four-year-old at Lickeen, in the Glencar area, and it was installed on its elevated throne in the centre of Killorglin on August 10, 2010, at the opening of the three-day fair. Blue/black in colour, Oisin, is being fed on a diet of shrubs and leaves from ash and oak trees, ivy and hay.
Local speculation is that goats are being killed in increasing numbers and their skin used for making bodhrans.

“Whatever is going on it’s getting really serious at this stage. We found it very hard to get a goat this year. If this situation continues, we’ll have to use a tame goat for Puck Fair and that would go against all tradition,” Frank warned.

“It’s a shame what’s happening. It would be a disgrace if these goats disappeared as they’ve been in Ireland for 4,000 years. Two years ago, I saw a herd of 32 in Glencar, but there are only four goats there now,” he added.

Goats have every reason to be paranoid. A few years ago when foot and mouth disease destroyed cattle stocks in Britain and Northern Ireland, helicopters with Irish troops hunted down and shot dead wild goat herds in the Cooley Mountains which lie close to the Border.

More recently (June 18, 2011) RTE reported that it was “feared that a herd of wild goats – missing from Co Waterford – may have been stolen to make bodhrans.”

The report continued: ” A reward of €1,000 has been offered for information on a herd of wild goats that has gone missing from Co Waterford. Around 20 goats disappeared from hills around Passage East one night a few weeks ago – they have not been seen since.

“Searches of the area, including some by the local search and rescue helicopter, have proved fruitless.

“Gardaí are investigating, as is the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. A wild goat herd has been on the hills above Passage for at least 200 years.

“Gardaí are investigating reports that the goats were rounded up by sheepdogs and loaded onto a lorry. Those who took the goats left behind one puck and seven kids.

“There are reports that they will be – or have already been – killed to make bodhráns,” according to RTE News. Report