More than 600 homes were without power after lightning struck Kerry in the early hours, but the real electricity yesterday was to be found in Killorglin where a goat named Elvis, "the friskiest goat in years", was formally inaugurated as this year's King Puck.
The washing-powder-white goat, at only seven years old, is the youngest in the recent history of the ancient fair, the chief goat-catcher, Mr Frank Joy, explained at a preview at his home, near Glenbeigh, just hours before the coronation.
However, a local vet, Dr Teddy Clifford, had ascertained he was a real puck. He had checked all parts including his eyes and general health.
"You just can't tell. Sometimes the nanny goats can have fine horns and be very male-looking and you could be fooled. It was the vet suggested he get this kind of thorough check-up. It is the first time," Mr Joy said.
He admitted to being nervous about the weather. The sun emerged as the goat went up, with only a slight shower to freshen him. Goats were naturally immune to lightning, he said.
They were certainly lightning-quick in their movements and intelligence.
"And when he moves, you move with him," his son, Mr Francis Joy, exclaimed as father and son both were pulled along by one capricious tug of the wild goat as he headed down the road at Ballycleave.
Almost 50ft obove the ground, Elvis would be more content, Mr Joy said.
A mountain goat liked heights and for the next three days he simply would have a different view.
"Have you washed him? He's so white," Mr Aidan O'Shea, the father of this year's queen, 12-year-old Clodagh O'Shea, asked.
Mr Joy confirmed that he had not, as the strong whiff of the male goat overpowered a TV3 camera crew and a small audience including Elvis impersonator, Mr Mark Leen, and his father, Matt.
The first song this year's King Puck heard was not the traditional Seán Ó'Sé serenade of An Puc ar Buile, but the Elvis lyric of Are You Lonesome Tonight? sung into his ear by Mr Leen in full Elvis regalia.
Back at the town, where an estimated 30,000 people thronged in the afternoon, designer sunglasses were fetching the same price as plain umbrellas, and the umbrellas were winning by a distance.
Donkeys sold for €1,000 at the field outside the town, and a small number of Appaloosa ponies, with dalmatian-like spots, imported last year from New Zealand, were selling briskly for €2,000.
However, few items were as popular as the copies of pictures of older Puck Fairs sold by Mr Michael Houlihan, the author of a history of the fair.
Ms Bridget Quilligan from Charleville in Cork paid €5 for an unlaminated print of older horse-drawn caravans lining the road.
She preferred to be known as Flowery Quilligan, she said, and when she was younger she had won the prettiest girl of the fair competition.
Now married to Mr Con Hegarty, she has 75 grandchildren and 16 children, eight sons and eight daughters and she attends Puck Fair each year.
Puck is one of the oldest fairs in Ireland. It continues today, and tomorrow is Scattering Day, when Elvis the goat will be formally dethroned.