We can all conjure up a picture of what leprechauns look like, be it from Celtic mythology, folklore or even Hollywood! (Finian’s Rainbow and Darby O’Gill have a lot to answer for!)
But, where, did the culture of leprechauns originate?
One theory is that the word leprechaun is an anglicised version of “ Lú Chorpáin” in Irish, meaning “small bodies”. They are first mentioned in writings by Irish monks in the 8th century. They are indeed small, about 2 to 3 feet in height. But while small in stature, they have big appetites and love a drink!
Their favourite food is, needless to say, Irish soda bread spread with lashings of creamy butter. They are partial to a drop of Irish whiskey too, served as an Irish Coffee!!
We all know about the Irish fairies, the “Sidhe” (pronounced Shee) and how we need to keep on the right side of them! The Sidhe are thought to be descended from the Tuatha De Danann, an ancient Irish tribe. The leprechaun is a kind of fairy, a mischievous one, and probably a cousin of the Sidhe.
W.B Yeats our Nobel Prize-winning poet was fascinated by the supernatural element of Irish folklore. He published a book in 1892 titled Irish Fairy Tales, which included a classification of Irish fairies. He describes the leprechaun as follows:_
“ This creature is seen sitting under a hedge mending a shoe, and one who catches him can make him deliver up his crocks of gold, for he is a miser of great wealth, but if you take your eyes off him, the creature vanishes like smoke”.
Some might say Yeats was indeed “ away with the fairies” at times!
Did you know that there is a job opening for a Leprechaun Whisperer in County Louth, near the Cooley mountains? The last leprechaun whisperer in Ireland, Kevin Woods is in his eighties and looking for a successor. He has been communicating with 236 leprechauns in his locality for many years and doesn’t want the connection to be lost! Details on how to apply are in the link below!
https://tinyurl.com/yrcmhfff
Beannachtaí na Féile Pádraig
Happy St.Patricks Day
