What Is A Pooka?, A Celtic mythological quandry!

So I just saw the movie Harvey (again) and they mention that Harvey is a Pooka. In the movie they give the loose definition of a mischevious, yet benign, fairy-like creature.

I recall members of my family invoking the name at different times...but never providing any details.

Anyone have anything to add? Any discrepancies?

Cheers

More info on Pooka


Variants: phouka, puca




No fairy is more feared in Ireland than the pooka. This may be because it is always out and about after nightfall, creating harm and mischief, and because it can assume a variety of terrifying forms.

The guise in which it most often appears, however, is that of a sleek, dark horse with sulphurous yellow eyes and a long wild mane. In this form, it roams large areas of countryside at night, tearing down fences and gates, scattering livestock in terror, trampling crops and generally doing damage around remote farms.

In remote areas of County Down, the pooka becomes a small, deformed goblin who demands a share of the crop at the end of the harvest: for this reason several strands, known as the 'pooka's share', are left behind by the reapers. In parts of County Laois, the pooka becomes a huge, hairy bogeyman who terrifies those abroad at night; in Waterford and Wexford, it appears as an eagle with a massive wingspan; and in Roscommon, as a black goat with curling horns.

The mere sight of it may prevent hens laying their eggs or cows giving milk, and it is the curse of all late night travellers as it is known to swoop them up on to its back and then throw them into muddy ditches or bogholes. The pooka has the power of human speech, and it has been known to stop in front of certain houses and call out the names of those it wants to take upon its midnight dashes. If that person refuses, the pooka will vandalise their property because it is a very vindictive fairy.

The origins of the pooka are to some extent speculative. The name may come from the Scandinavian pook or puke, meaning 'nature spirit'. Such beings were very capricious and had to be continually placated or they would create havoc in the countryside, destroying crops and causing illness among livestock. Alternatively, the horse cults prevalent throughout the early Celtic world may have provided the underlying motif for the nightmare steed.

Some tidbits-

Pooka comes from the Gaelic word Poc which means goat.

The scary creature of Irish folklore.

Often assumes the shape of a goat, horse or some other huge hairy creature that could speak with a human voice.

Snuck up behind people to take them on a frightening ride across the earth and oceans.  If you are returned, you're never quite the same.

 

Who knew. I thought it was just another word for Rabbit. I love the movie Harvey. I think it is such a well-done, funny movie! I'm so glad to find that other people enjoy this movie. Some people think I'm crazy for liking (being 22 and all) I love old movies. Some of the greatest movies ever made are black and white. I think there are a lot of great actors today, but there will never be another Jimmy Stewart!

Yeah....Harvey is a fantastic movie.
What was really powerful was watching it and then Donnie Darko...

I highly recommend this as a double feature combo for an evening if you're in the mood for an exessivly psychological movie experience.

Cheers

Hmmm...

Makes me wonder if there is a connection with Shakespeare's Puck character from The Tempest (or was it A Midsummer Night's Dream? Its been a while since I read them)

I played an on-line game for a time "Dark age of Camelot" one of the creatures you had to kill was a pooka! I had no idea that it was anything but part of the game.......

Midsummer Night's Dream is the one with Puck. That is a good question...but I think it is most likely just a coincidence..