Stick around county losing the head and acting the eejit (8)

I believe the answer is:

clowning

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'stick' is the definition.
The answer and definition can be both acts as well as being singular nouns.
Perhaps there's an association between them I don't understand?

I don't understand the remainder of the clue.

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(Other definitions for clowning that I've seen before include "Circus fooling" , "Acting the fool" .)

I've seen this clue in the Irish Times and the Irish Times (Crosaire).

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