As part of Irish mythology and folklore the Leprechauns are part of Ireland’s faerie folk, called by some as the “wee folk”. As a cousin of the clurichaun they are known to have inhabited Ireland well before the arrival of the Celts.

Small enough for one to sit comfortable on your shoulder they are very smartly dressed in small suites with waist coats, hats and buckled shoes.

As roguish and intelligent folk they are generally harmless to the general population in Ireland. Although, they are known to play the odd trick on farmers and local population of villages and towns.

It is said that every Leprechaun has a pot of gold, hidden deep in the Irish countryside. To protect the leprechaun’s pot of gold the Irish fairies gave them magical powers to use if ever captured by a human or an animal. Such magic an Irish leprechaun would perform to escape capture would be to grant three wishes or to vanish into thin air!

Leprechauns are also very keen musicians who play tin whistles, the fiddle and even the Irish Harp and various other Irish traditional instruments. They are known to have wild music sessions at night which in Ireland are known as Ceili’s with hundreds of Irish leprechauns gathering to dance, sing and drink.

The leprechaun is fond of drinking Poteen, moonshine, but must not be mistaken by their Irish cousins the cluricauns who are drunken creatures who love to cause chaos around Ireland at night time, a headache for us humans. A far cry from the “Lucky Charms” Leprechaun. Magically delicious? Think again!

Story adapted from yourirish…You’re welcome!