Bluiríní Béaloidis is a podcast from the National Folklore Collection at University College Dublin. It explores the rich landscape of Irish and European folk traditions. Each episode journeys through diverse cultural narratives, revealing how understanding our traditional heritage can illuminate our present and guide our future. By uncovering the stories, beliefs, and practices embedded in folklore, the podcast invites listeners to discover the depth and complexity of our shared cultural inheritance.

The Púca
This episode of Blúiríní Béaloidis examines the controversy surrounding Aidan Harte's Púca of Ennistymon sculpture, revealing how folkloric entities continue to evoke powerful responses in contemporary society. The public reaction against this artwork—denounced by some as a "pagan idol"—demonstrates the enduring tension between Christian and pre-Christian traditions in Ireland, and how folkloric figures remain potent symbols rather than mere cultural artefacts.

The Púca itself represents a fascinating case study in liminal mythology—a boundary-crossing entity that resists simple categorisation. This amorphous, shape-shifting spirit inhabits the psychological and physical margins of the human world, frequenting transitional spaces like glens, caves, and cliffs. The diverse manifestations of the Púca in folklore—appearing variously as horse, goat, dog, or even light—reflect its function as an embodiment of the unpredictable and uncontrollable elements of nature and human experience.

Particularly revealing are the contradictory narratives surrounding encounters with the Púca. Tales of terrifying night-rides across treacherous landscapes exist alongside stories portraying the entity as a protective guardian. This duality exemplifies how folkloric figures often serve as repositories for complex and sometimes contradictory human attitudes toward the mysteries of existence.

The contemporary controversy over Harte's sculpture reflects a broader pattern in which traditional folkloric entities continue to function as active cultural forces rather than mere historical curiosities. The public's visceral response to the Púca's representation demonstrates that such figures maintain a psychological potency that transcends rational dismissal, revealing how pre-modern mythological thinking persists beneath the surface of our ostensibly rational society. This episode provides a fascinating window into how ancient folkloric traditions continue to shape modern identity and community boundaries.