The Leprechaun

The modern tourist image of the Irish leprechaun might not be everyone's idea of a fairy, but traditionally this little man was classed as one of the "faery folk". He is one of the Sidhe and a descendant of the Tuatha De Danann.

What Is A Leprechaun?

St. Patrick's Day, Erin Go Bragh, Leprechaun
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The modern view of the leprechaun is something of a commercialised sterotype. He is usually depicted as a little bearded man in a green coat with a pot of gold and a very bad Irish accent! You can, of course, buy a variety of merchandise including leprechaun pins and lucky charms - even dress up in a green Halloween costume!

The stereotype isn't completely inaccurate. The leprechaun of folklore was usually a little old man with a beard. He was also the cobbler to the fairies and would frequently be seen working on a shoe - though for some reason he only ever made them singly, never as pairs. The leprechaun was also ill-tempered and a mischievous trickster.

The modern Irish word for leprechaun is leipreachan. The derivation of this is not clear, there are two main theories. One is that it comes from luacharma'n, a Gaelic word meaning "pygmy" or "small-bodied". The other is that it comes from leath bhrogan which means "shoe maker".

A relative of the leprechaun was the clurichaun. This wee man was known for his love of a drink and his ability to avoid work.

Crock of Gold

Although the leprechaun of folk tales didn't always have a crock of gold, he was indeed rich and if caught would try to buy his freedom - this is probably the origin of the idea of the leprechan as a bringer of luck. However the human who expected riches needed to be very careful as the leprechaun would take every opportunity to fool him. The leprechaun is not to be trusted.

One story tells how the leprechaun always carries a gold coin with which to buy his way out of trouble. However the coin will have turned into a rock by the next morning. One has to wonder if some of the earliest "leprechauns" were actually conmen who were skilled at sleight of hand.

Female Leprechauns

There were no female leprechauns. Maybe that's why they were so grumpy?

Or perhaps all they really needed was to get paid.

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