There are many stories and descriptions
regarding this infamous creature
of Celtic legend, and in searching,
the following seems to pretty well
follow the basics of what they all
tell, in one way or another:
-
The
Phooka (Pooka) is an Irish goblin with a variety of rough
beast-like forms. He appears sometimes
as a dog or a horse,
even a bull, but he is generally thought
to be jet-black with blazing eyes.
One depiction of him is as a half-human,
half-goat form, as shown
to the right... (not a very pleasant
thing to meet on a dark night!
As a seemingly friendly, shaggy, sway-backed
pony, Phooka offers
the unwary traveller a welcome lift,
but once astride the unfortunate is taken for a wild and terrifying gallop
over and across the wettest and most thorny country, eventually to be dumped
headlong into the mire or deposited in a handy ditch. This seems almost
to follow the stories and description of the Kelpie, a mythical beastie
of the Scottish Highlands introduced elsewhere in these pages, except for
the shaggy, sway-backed description, which is counter to tales told in
that area of the world.
The joke is on the traveller, and
the chuckle is that of the Phooka as he gallops away.
-
Another, more easily acceptable version
of this beastie talks of the more friendly fellow (shown with a long-time
acquaintance, left), who seems to travel a lot, and apparently has an affinity
for addled, somewhat perpetual tipplers (perfect companion for a Scot or
Irishman) as depicted by Harvey's friend in the movie, strangely enough,
of the same name.. Personally, had I my "druthers", I think I
prefer Harvey. Although - where does a six-foot, three-inch rabbit sleep?
The
Phooka (Pooka) is an Irish goblin with a variety of rough
