My favorite interpretation of the Pooka comes from rural Ireland. In County Down it remains a custom to make the right side of your front door and gate comfortable, with the top of the gatepost smooth, and a with a bench alongside. The gatepost to the left is just a tall pillar of jagged rocks. The good friendly pooka will sit for a chat outside a house on the right of the door. The more malicious little fairies would be on the left if they were given a chance.
A Pooka will stop and talk for perhaps an hour or two. A favourite opening gambit is "You are new here, I think. Many years ago I used to live in this house." This is usually followed by long stories and tall tales. It sometimes seems that conspiracy theories started with Irish Pookas. Fortunes swindled away from families are one of the main topics of the tales told by these visitors. The odd thing about these visits is that the person seems so real, until they go. They just disappear, without warning, and with the listener hardly noticing they have gone. And they never leave any sign behind, or do any harm.
