What is a Púca?

*Disclaimer: I am not a full-time folklorist or historian, and should not be used as a source. This blog was written due to my love of, interest in and constant reading of folklore books, and to share some of that with you!*

What is a Púca?

Púcas (Púcaí in Irish) are often mistaken as ghosts or faeiries in conversation, and folk stories typically show them causing mischief or teaching trespassers a lesson. 

Part of the larger group of supernatural creatures called the Aos Sí, (though this is sometimes debated) Púcas (also spelled Pooka or Phooka) are primarily known for their shape-shifting abilities, often appearing as a donkey, goat, horse, or snail - or even a snail-headed horse (we’ll get to that bit later!).

How to Identify a Púca

Though they shift forms regularly, you can identify Púcas in the wild masquerading as animals by looking for two key features: firstly, a Púca is often covered in black fur or hair, which helps it prowl under shadows for its next source of entertainment; secondly, Púcas are said to have glowing eyes, often red in colour - very spooky!

You can see how I tried to mimic this in my Limited Edition Puca Phantom Friends, adding black pigment to their bodies, and glow-in-the-dark, glittery red eyes. 

You can also identify them from their aversion to iron, as many of the fair folk hold this same fear of the metal, so wearing spurs on your boots could prevent a Puca taking you for a ride! Some folks think this is also why so many homes in Ireland display iron horse shoes at their entrance. Inspired by this, I created the Horseshoe Wall Hangings and the Fire Quartz (which gets its distinctive colour from Iron in the mineral) Horseshoe Earrings for the Tintean collection. 

What Are Púcas Famous For?

Many stories see Púcas as wild horses trotting under the veil of night before taking a debauchee or wrongdoer on a wild ride through fields, down ditches, and over mountains until dawn. Whenever a Puca sets out to cause genuine or intentional harm to someone, it is often seen as a due come-uppance for their wrong-doings! Do you think you could handle a magic-Púca-ride? 

Púcas are also known to give advice to lone wanderers, though usually in the form of riddles or otherwise opaque, complex language that only makes sense upon the ending of the tale. This lends them to be excellent story-driving characters, complete with a strong moral to teach through the passing of their stories.

Examples of Púcas in Irish Folklore

Below are two of my favourite stories about Púcas in Irish folklore - and I would love to hear any stories you have about Pucás or other creatures from Celtic mythologies! If you have a memory or highlight you would like to share, make a story and tag me on Instagram @artemisrisingshop!.

The Púca Práine

This story follows a Púca who takes the form of a snail. In life, he had been a holy man and he remained in the Rath of Fraine after his death. If anyone old or weak was far from home, they could go to the Rath and call out for Púca Praine, and the snail would transform into a horse with a snail’s head and give them a free ride home. However, a man named Daniel Moran once asked the Púca Praine to take him home when he was quite young, healthy and not tired at all. The Púca obliged, but took Danjel through rough bushes and hedges, and between two tight rocks, until Danjel’s feet were ripped clean from his body.

• Told by Andy Rispin, Kildalkey, Co Meath. Collected for The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0694,  Page 401 © National Folklore Collection, UCD. Accessed through Duchas.ie https://www.duchas.ie/en/cbes/5008941/4968722

The Pooka of Rathcoffey

This tale is set in a great house, where the servants of the house became lazier and lazier, preferring to sit in front of the fire, eating food and sharing stories rather than cleaning or cooking. That being said, this group of workers would always make sure to be upstairs, in the servants quarters well and asleep before the stroke of midnight. 

For you see, there were strange goings on inside the house after midnight. The sounds of doors opening, banging and clattering of pots and pans and a strange braying could be heard every night. As they delighted in these stories, and in their rush to be in bed before the stroke of midnight, they would often leave their dirty plates, cutlery and an unclean hearth behind them. Yet every morning, when they returned to the now silent kitchen, they would find the place spotless. 

This, of course, fed their laziness, and though they did not know what creature was entering the house, they began to leave more and more housework to this strange, noisy entity. Until, one evening, a young boy who worked in the house was left behind downstairs, and after midnight, he came face to face with the mysterious creature… 

• Based on ‘The Rathcoffey Pooka’ from Irish Fairy Tales by Padraic O’Farrell, with additional context from The National Leprechaun Museum, telling of ‘The Pooka of Rathcoffey’ by Mark Guerin https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=2509735625837854

Want to Learn More about Irish Folklore?

I wrote this blog to share my own knowledge and interests in oft forgotten stories and mythologies from Ireland and across the world. If you would like to support me as I write and share rich histories and folk stories like above, I invite you to check out my store - see what stands out to you as a memento for what you most enjoyed reading today, or perhaps for another special moment in your life!

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Thank you for reading, and I hope you don’t cross paths with a bored Púca anytime soon!