Page 62 - The 'X' Chronicles Newspaper - Febrary/March 2020 Edition

62 Leprechaun Facts You Didn’t Know

Fascinating Facts You

Probably Did Not Know
About Leprechauns

The leprechaun is perhaps one of the best-
known creatures in Irish folklore. Leprechauns
are popularly depicted as little men with beards
dressed in green coats and tall green hats. Other
well-known beliefs about leprechauns include
the pot of gold that they are said to keep at the
end of the rainbow, and their mischievous
nature. Whilst many are familiar with this
general depiction of the leprechaun, there are
other aspects of these Irish creatures that are less
well-known.

The Name Leprechaun Has A few Possible
Origins
For a start, there are a number of
different theories regarding the origins of the
word ‘leprechaun’. For example, one account
states that this name may have been derived
from the Irish leath bhrogan (which is translated
as ‘shoemaker’). Another possible explanation
for this name is that it comes from the word
luchorpan (meaning ‘small body’). Yet another
is that it is from the word lucharma’n (meaning
‘pygmy’). It may be pointed out that originally,
the name leprechaun was used only in the north
Leinster area, and that other regions of Ireland
had alternate names for this creature, including
lurican, lurachmain, and lurgadhan.

Leprechauns are Descendants of Tuatha Dé
Dannan
Leprechauns are considered to be part of
the fairy family, and that they are the
descendants of Tuatha Dé Dannan (translated as
‘Peoples / Tribes of the Goddess Dana / Danu’),
who were a group of supernatural beings who
invaded Ireland in the distant past. Interestingly,
the existence of female leprechauns is not
attested in Irish folklore. One explanation to get Leprechauns Work Hard and Earn Well in 1989, the remains of a leprechaun were
around the problem of leprechaun procreation is Speaking of work, leprechauns are allegedly found by a local pub owner by the
that these creatures are actually unwanted / believed to serve as cobblers to other fairies. name of P. J. O’Hare. One day, a scream was
deformed children of fairies that have been Therefore, they are said to always have a heard near a well, and when O’Hare arrived at
abandoned by the rest of the community. This hammer in one hand, and a shoe in the other. the scene, he saw bones, a tiny suit and some
may also serve as an explanation for the Moreover, the noise made by leprechauns gold coins near a patch of scorched earth. These
leprechaun’s notoriously grouchy, solitary, and hammering nails into the soles of shoes are said items are now displayed in a glass case.
untrusting nature. to be audible by human beings. According to So are leprechauns just the stuff of myth
Irish folklore, fairies are very fond of dancing, and legend? Not according to Ireland’s only
Leprechauns Have Cousins… or a More and because of that, are in constant need of new ‘leprechaun whisperer’, who insists he’s seen
Mischievous ‘Dark Side’ shoes. Therefore, shoemaking is a lucrative these little people. Seventy-four-year-old Kevin
Whilst leprechauns are known to be trade in the fairy world. Woods from County Louth in Ireland said he
tricksters, they are perhaps not as troublesome One result of the leprechaun’s trade is first encountered leprechauns in the Cooley
as their cousins, the clurichaun. According to that they are very wealthy fairies, and it is Mountains more than 20 years ago. According to
Irish folklore, these lesser known relatives of the commonly believed that leprechauns keep the Mr Woods, there were once billions of them in
leprechaun are nocturnal creatures, and are gold that they earn in pots hidden at the end of Ireland but they all died out, and now there are
prone to causing havoc. For example, the rainbows. Alternatively, it is believed that just a few hundred left. He now spends his days
clurichaun are often depicted as emptying out leprechauns are the bankers of the fairy world. running Last Leprechauns of Ireland tours. So is
entire wine cellars, and being drunk. In many In this case, the gold they keep may not be their Mr Woods just a lepre-CON, or do these little
stories, they are also said to harness livestock, own, but belong to other fairies who have people of ancient mythology really exist? []
including sheep and goats, and ride them around entrusted the leprechauns with the safeguarding
Ireland in the night. According to some of their wealth. March 17, 2020
folklorists, the clurichaun are not a type of fairy
distinct from the leprechaun, but are leprechauns Leprechauns are a Protected Species
in their ‘night-form’. In other words, Finally, leprechauns are considered to be HAPPY
leprechauns experience a complete change of a protected species under European Law. This
character when they get drunk after a hard day’s status has been granted by the European Union ST. PATRICK’S
work. to the supposed 236 leprechauns that are living DAY
today in Carlingford Mountain. It was here that,