The Leprechaun
The word leprechaun comes from the Irish Lú Chorpain meaning small body.
What is a leprechaun?
The leprechaun is a character of Irish Mythology. He is about 2'6" (75cm) tall. He is very rich but extremely tricky and if you catch one don't take your eyes off him, or he will disappear! He is a very slick talker and loves a bit of fun.
Where does he live?
He lives in a secluded spot, usually a small hole in the ground, where he has a comfortable little home.
Where did the leprechaun come from?
Leprechauns came from a mythical land under the sea and when they arrived in Ireland decided to make their home here. The first recorded sighting of a leprechaun dates to the 8th century.
Are there any female leprechauns?
There are references to female leprechauns, but they are even harder to catch than the males.
What clothes does he wear?
Leprechauns like old style clothes and they have magic red hats which allow them to disappear and sometimes to travel great distances in the blink of an eye.
What does he do?
by trade the leprechaun is a shoemaker, and he provides the fairies with their dancing shoes. As the fairies love to dance, he is always busy.
How does he have so much gold?
He is well paid by the fairies and keeps nearly all the money he earns in a crock.
Where does he keep his gold?
He buries his gold in the ground in a secluded spot and if you catch him he is obliged to tell you where. If you follow a rainbow to the end you will find his treasure.
How do you catch a leprechaun?
The best time to see a leprechaun is early morning or at dusk. You can sometimes hear him tapping with his hammer. If you are lucky he will be so busy making his shoes that he will not hear you. When you catch him, keep a close eye on him - he is a very slippery customer!
Small and wizened but not always old, he usually appears alone, sometimes sitting on a toad-stool smoking his pipe and hammering a shoe. You can hear this hammering for some distance in the woodland.
Despite having short, thin legs, he is very agile, and moves very quickly through fields and woods; he climbs trees very well, and is a great swimmer. A slick speaker, and a great musician, you might see him resting or playing music on a toad-stool, rock, or on the branch of a tree. The best time to spot a Leprechaun is at daybreak or sunset.
Leprechauns live in a secluded spots – usually a hole in the ground covered by foliage, in which he has built a comfortable little home. His mother cooks for him and he especially fond of his ‘potatoes’ (i.e. pig-nuts). He dresses in old 18 century style and he is very rich, he hides his treasure in a crock of gold either in the earth or underwater. He has three coin purses in his jacket – one for copper , one for silver, and one for gold. He also carries a special purse that can never be emptied.