Leprechauns: Truth or Myth

Since all of my relatives, dating back generations, originally came from Ireland, I grew up in a family with a strong storytelling tradition. And around this time of year, the stories inevitably turned toward the smallest members of the Tuatha De Danann, the family of Irish fairies. The word “Leprechaun” has two possible origins. The first is from the Irish word luchorpán which means small body, not too surprising since they are only 2-3 inches tall. The other possible origin word is leath brogan which means shoemaker because Leprechauns are known as the shoemakers to other fairies.

According to most legends, stories about Leprechauns appeared in the Celtic world around the 8th century. Leprechauns were known to be water fairies who lived in the streams and wells that dotted Ireland. Eventually the stories of Leprechauns merged with the idea of household fairies (who helped busy mothers with childcare and chores). Except since Leprechauns were male (there are no female leprechauns, which defies biology), the stories say that these tiny fairies would end up in cellars drinking all the whiskey. Their only redeeming virtue was that, while the family slept, they would emerge and repair all the shoes in the house.

Those Leprechauns who didn’t live in a home chose to abide near streams and wells, often in the hollows of sacred oak trees or in underground caves. As time went on, Leprechauns became associated with wealth because the Tuatha De Danann would pay Leprechauns lots of gold to fix their shoes. (Sturdy shoes were a really big deal back then!) This led to the belief that Leprechauns store their gold in pots and bury them at the end of rainbows, where only the fairy folk could travel. The end of a rainbow was one of the doorways to their home in the “Otherworld”.

As the tales of Leprechauns evolved, they became known as hard-drinking tricksters who used the gold that they didn’t need to trick humans into doing things in the “Real World”. Some storytellers believe that Leprechauns were actually deformed children of the Tuatha De Danann who were despised. Unlike other fairies of the Tuatha De Danann, once Leprechauns were born, they were forced to live between the “Otherworld” and the “Real World”. Except their size made things difficult in the human world. So Leprechauns used their gold to get people to do things for them. They were also known as mischievous creatures who could eat an entire larder of potatoes and a barrel of whiskey in one sitting while playing fairy instruments and dancing, all of which kept the home’s inhabitants awake all night.

But if you were actually able to catch a Leprechaun (a hard feat, indeed!), the rules of the Tuatha De Danann were clear–Leprechauns would have to grant you three wishes in exchange for their release. It was considered a stroke of luck to catch a Leprechaun which led to the saying “The Luck of the Irish”. Originally, Leprechauns wore red jackets and tricorn hats. But in 1831, a writer named Samuel Lover described Leprechauns as wearing all green in his book Legends and Stories of Ireland. After the publication of Lover’s book, people associated Leprechauns with anything green, not surprising since Ireland is known as the Emerald Isle.

The legend of Leprechauns dates back over a thousand years, yet there are still sightings today. In 1989, a man named P.J. O’Hare owned a pub in Carlingford, County Louth. He claimed that he was walking by a well in the woods and heard screams. When he investigated, he found a Leprechaun who’d perished. So he brought it back to his pub and placed it on display. (Ack!). To this day, the town has an annual Leprechaun hunt to find a plastic Leprechaun that has been hidden somewhere around the town.

But it’s not just in pubs that you’ll find people who swear they’ve seen Leprechauns. Under EU law, Leprechauns are now considered a protected species. And, near the pub in Carlingford, there is a walking trail called the Sliabh Foy Loop which is officially protected as the land where 236 Leprechauns live. Somehow, a local man named Kevin Woods convinced the EU that the land should be protected and the whole area is now under the European Habitats Directive.

So this St. Patricks’ Day, listen carefully. You may hear Leprechauns tapping their cobbler hammers, playing traditional Irish music, and dancing jigs. And, if you’re so inclined to try and catch a Leprechaun, I’ve included a recipe below for one of their favorite treats: Irish Potato Candy aka Leprechaun Candy. It is neither candy nor made out of potatoes, but these sweet treats are easy to make and will fool even the most discerning of Leprechauns.

Lá Fhéile Pádraig sona duit! A happy St. Patrick’s day to you!

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