All creatures great and small: This contribution to Folklore Focus considers tiny creatures that have been both feared and revered in folklore.

This article examines the role of tiny creatures, specifically worms and snails, in Irish folklore, where they are depicted as powerful omens capable of foretelling events such as death or bestowing cures. It highlights various wells and sites across Ireland, including St Colman's Well on Achill Island and Tobar na Selmide in Sligo, where these creatures are linked to supernatural phenomena and local legends. The article also references broader cultural beliefs about snails from ancient civilizations such as the Aztecs, Japanese, and Greeks, illustrating their symbolic significance in fertility and nature. Overall, it emphasizes the dual nature of these small creatures as both feared and revered entities within folklore, reflecting human engagement with the mysterious forces of life and nature.