The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-03-04
IRISH sUPERsTTTIoNs.
Death Coach and the Sullen Driver
Fairy Horse and Great Black Bird.

Death Coach and the Sullen Driver
Fairy Horse and Great Black Bird.
The tide of civilization and educa-
ton is surging over Ireland, and in
towns and large villages steam and
electricity, motors and bicycles, libra
rles and newspapers have dealt a
deathblow to many picturesque old
customs and romantic legends, but
amid the wide stretches of bog, in the
wild glens and mountain passes, and
along the stormy Atlantic coast
ancient rites and myths linger.
No wonder strange .superstitions
finger in the scattered hamlets by sea
or in the lonely cabins on the rock
islands round the iron coast, for on
winter nights, when the mighty surges
break laundering against the tower
ing cliffs and the storm wind walls
wefrdly through the hollow caverns
and ivied ruins. where the deserted
fortresses OF the powerful chieftains
of bygone days look down on the
foaming waves and the cry of the
gulls and curlew echoes over rock
shores and across wide loughs and
estuaries, one might Wen fancy that
the sounds were the voice of giants
or wizards doomed for their sins to
wander forever round this coast, the
"the White Lady of the Cliffs"-a ia
nous Munster apparition.
Women and children. crouching
over the fire of driftwood, peat or
furze branches, flaming fitfully on the
open hearth, cross themselves as a
louder wall rings through the dark
ness or rumbling sound is heard
that to their ears seems to be the
rolling of the wheels of 1.-The headless
coach or death COACH" so called in
the County Cork because horses and
driver are supposed to be headless.
The coachman is the 'Dallahan,"
that is, dark or sullen person, COB
lin of most malignant disposition.
This phantom is said to follow"
many old Munster families. the vehicle
numbering heavily up the avenue
and stopping at the front door when
ever death is about to occur in the
house. I know numbers Of persons
and not by any means merely I'M
educated peasants are per-
suaded that they have heard the
rumbling of the headiless coach.
Needless to say. the noise of a heavy
road is sufficient to terrify superstf-
tious people into believing that they
have heard the death coach-they
take good care not to see it.
Another much-dreaded apparition
Is the Phooka, or Fairy Horse, very
in the shape of a beautiful coal black
steed with fire darting from his eyes
and nostrils.
Occasionally he adopts the form of
black bull or goat, and some
times he appears as an awful COM
pound of several black animals
horse, bull goat and ram. In his
equine form he is said to amuse him
self by enticing solitary travellers
whom he meets after dark into
mounting him, and as he invariably
looks like mate cut of a horse
such as every Irishman appreciates,
he is said to succeed very frequently
in his nefarious plan.
The instant the rider is on his back
the elfin steed dashes off madly
through stream, lake and bog hole,
thicket and coppice, hedge and ditch,
marsh and ravine, till the terrified
mortal, drenched, torn and bruised,
shrieks for mercy or perhaps remem-
bers to gasp out a prayer, when, with
a furious bound, the Phooka filings
him off, preferably into a muddy pool
or furze braZe, and darts away,
leaving the unhappy rider to pick
himself up, invariably finding that he
is miles out of his way.
Sudden falls are attributed to this
malignant sprite, and many a man
who has lost his way or met with an
accident coming home from fair or
for the rest of his days that he has
been led astray by the Phooka, al
though his troubles were due to a yet
more potent spirit. Dangerous rocks
and crags are often called "Carrigna-
Phooka" Crock of the Phooka), just as
deep pools or holes in a river or bog
are "Poul-na-Phooka.'' A beautiful
waterfall in Wicklow bears this name
The Poukeen," as he Is sometimes
called, is also said to adopt the form
of a great black bird or a bat-the
| latter is greatly feared by the coun-
try folks. In the bat form he is sup
posed to lure people into climbing
ivied walls and towers, from which
he throws them-an idea which seems
to bear some relation TO the vampire
stories of eastern Europe. He is the
"pouke" of Spenser, and from break
| ing the necks of the unwary to spoil
ing the blackberries on Michaelmas
ever, in order to vex the archangel,
there are few enormities of which he
| is not guilty, according to popular be-
lief.
PUCK. the household fairy" of
English legend, finds his Irish coun-
terpart in the "Fir-Darrig," or RED
Man." merry goblin, very similar to
| the Scotch red cap, or brownie. He is
| said to be dressed in scarlet-the at
| tire of most of the Irish fairies is
| supposed to consist of a green suit,
| red Shoes long white stockings, red
| or black cap, with an eagles feather.
This little red-clad sprite is said to be
| remarkable for the extreme beauty of
| his voice, which, according to the now
| fast-disappearing race of story tel
lerS is like the sound of the waves,
"the music of angels, or the warbling
Of birds" A sweet voice is highly
esteemed in Erin. where a girl pos
| sessing that excellent thing in
| women is said 70 be able to coax
| - 1t H. - Ira
| land Review.
Tax Commissioners Visiting.
| Members of the state tax commission