The Púca
In Irish folklore, a sleek black horse with burning eyes may appear on a lonely road at night, and give you the wildest ride of your life.
What was reported
The púca is a shape-shifter of Irish folklore. It can appear as a goat, a hare, a dog or a goblin, but most often as a black horse with a flowing mane and glowing yellow eyes. It tempts travellers to climb on, then gallops off across the country, over hedges and rivers, before dropping them in a ditch.
It's linked with Samhain, the start of winter. After 1 November, people said, the púca spoiled any blackberries left on the bushes, so they mustn't be eaten. Waterfalls and holes were named after it, like Poulaphouca, 'the púca's hole', in Wicklow.
Explanations offered
The púca is a folk figure who can bring good or bad luck. It gave its name to Puck in Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream, and appears as a giant rabbit in the play and film Harvey.
- When
- Told for centuries
- Where
- Poulaphouca, Ireland
- Witnesses
- Irish folklore
- Status
- Legend
Famous cases are real, widely reported events. Each file sets out what witnesses said and the explanations that have been offered, without taking a side.
More from Ireland