Uploaded February 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 days ago
Keeping a Puckawn with the Cows for Luck
Here is a short clip of Margaret O’Leary and Alice Ryan from Crossabeg, Co. Wexford telling me earlier today how they always kept a puckawn (pocán/male goat) with their herd of cows. Margaret is originally from Co. Kilkenny but living in Crossabeg and she did it that too. Both had it that it brought luck to the herd and in cases helped a cow go into calf.
I was down doing a talk in The Forge in Crossabeg and sharing/gathering stories with a group of older women and as I was leaving the two women told me this. Please excuse the poor sound as I only had my phone and rest of the group were behind me in the hall eager to get the tay! Great to hear this as the ‘puckawn’ (pocán) is related the whole pucá figure in folklore/name due to the horns. Anyone else remember or maybe you still do this and keep a puckawn with the cows?
Text: Michael Fortune
Keeping a Puckawn with the Cows for Luck
Here is a short clip of Margaret O’Leary and Alice Ryan from Crossabeg, Co. Wexford telling me earlier today how they always kept a puckawn (pocán/male goat) with their herd of cows. Margaret is originally from Co. Kilkenny but living in Crossabeg and she did it that too. Both had it that it brought luck to the herd and in cases helped a cow go into calf.
I was down doing a talk in The Forge in Crossabeg and sharing/gathering stories with a group of older women and as I was leaving the two women told me this. Please excuse the poor sound as I only had my phone and rest of the group were behind me in the hall eager to get the tay! Great to hear this as the ‘puckawn’ (pocán) is related the whole pucá figure in folklore/name due to the horns. Anyone else remember or maybe you still do this and keep a puckawn with the cows?
Text: Michael Fortune
