Leprechauns (folklore)

Leprechauns are small supernatural creatures that play a significant role in traditional Irish folklore. With a history stretching back to the eighth century, leprechauns are among Ireland’s most well-known and recognizable cultural figures. Contemporary accounts typically depict leprechauns as short-statured, red-bearded men who wear green coats, top hats, and buckled shoes. They are also often described as solitary shoemakers who prefer to be left alone and like to play tricks on those who cross their path. Leprechauns are commonly associated with luck and often said to have the ability to grant wishes and bestow great wealth when they feel inclined to do so. Despite their Irish roots, leprechauns have become increasingly commonplace in American popular culture over time. Some of the most famous leprechauns in modern pop culture include the Lucky Charms breakfast cereal mascot Lucky the Leprechaun and the unnamed leprechaun mascot of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish.

Background

Leprechauns are counted among the many fantastic mythological creatures that populate Irish folklore. Throughout much of Irish history from the pre-Christian era to the end of the Middle Ages, storytellers called seanachie regularly recited early-Irish myths about mortal warriors who clashed with various deadly creatures. These myths were later written down by Christian monks once Ireland converted to Christianity. Despite this attempt at preservation, the early-Irish myths were eventually replaced as Celtic cultural traditions melded with Christianity over time. Ultimately, this mingling of Celtic and Christian influences led to the development of a new tradition of Irish fairy tales that included all sorts of supernatural beings around which revolved many long-lasting superstitious beliefs.

The progenitors of the various supernatural beings in traditional Irish folklore were a race of gods known as the Tuatha Dé Danann. Once the inhabitants of a highly developed society, legend holds that the Tuatha Dé Danann fled into the otherworld after losing a battle for control of Ireland to humans. Over time, they evolved into the fairies and spirits associated with much of modern Irish folklore.

Several different categories of mythological creatures exist in Irish folklore. One category includes sea-folk like the selkies and merrows. Selkies are a race of shape-shifts who live as seals in the sea but can shed their sealskin and take human form on land. The merrows are mermaids with long red hair and a fishtail for a lower half. Giants make up another category. While some mythological Irish giants like Balor of the Evil Eye were cruel monsters, others, such as Finn McCool, were thoughtful and friendly. Giants were also long thought to have been responsible for carving out many of Ireland’s unique natural features. Some of the scariest creatures in Irish folklore were harbingers of death like the bansheeand the dullahan. However, without question the most famous category of Irish folklore’s mythological creatures are the fairies known as the “little people.” In addition to leprechauns, this category notably includes pookas and the fir dearg. Pookas are small fairies that come out at night and cause all sorts of mischief in homes and on farms. The fir dearg is a type of fairy that wears red and causes both bad dreams and household accidents.

Overview

As described in traditional Irish folklore, a leprechaun is a fairy with the appearance of a little red-bearded man wearing an emerald green suit of clothes that includes a jacket, trousers, a waistcoat, buckled shoes, and a top hat. Traditionally depicted as cobblers, unseen leprechauns are frequently identified by the distinct tapping sound produced as they make shoes. When they are not hard at work, leprechauns are said to be fond of making mischief however they can, often playing devious tricks on anyone they happen to encounter. At the same time, leprechauns are also strongly associated with luck and wealth. This is primarily because they are said to grant three wishes to anyone who manages to catch them in exchange for their freedom. They also sometimes offer their captors a pot of gold that they normally keep hidden at the end of the rainbow.

Like merrows, banshees, and pookas, leprechauns are typically viewed as descendants of the Tuatha Dé Danann. The earliest version of what are now regarded as leprechauns first appeared in a story in the eighth century called the Death of Fergus mac Leiti. The Death of Fergus mac Leiti features the luchorpán, which are water spirits who trick a king into surrendering his throne after offering him three wishes. Many experts believe that the word “leprechaun” is derived from “luchorpán,” which itself is a compound word built from the root words “lú” and “corp,” which mean “small” and “body.” Others argue that the word might actually be derived from the Irish term “leath bhrogan,” which means “shoemaker.” The luchorpán were one of two early types of fairies that eventually evolved together into the modern leprechaun. The other was the clúrachán, a household fairy said to haunt wine cellars and partake in trickery. The clúrachán was also known for wearing green, which is likely why leprechauns share the same trait.

In modern culture, leprechauns are frequently associated with St. Patrick’s Day, the Christian feast day observed on March 17 in honor of the titular fifth-century bishop who converted Irish pagans to Christianity. Although it is distinctly religious in origin, St. Patrick’s Day has evolved over time to become a celebration of Irish culture and Irish-ness in general. While it initially gained importance among Irish-American communities, celebrations and parades commemorating the holiday have become a worldwide phenomenon. As a result, the leprechaun has been widely adopted as a magical symbol of Ireland that plays a large part in St. Patrick’s Day imagery.

Leprechauns have long had a presence in contemporary popular culture. One of the first popular depictions of a leprechaun was Lucky the Leprechaun, who has been the mascot of the Boston Celtics since the team was formed in 1946. Leprechauns also featured prominently in the 1959 live action Disney film Darby O’Gill and the Little People starring actor Sean Connery. In 1960, the Notre Dame Fighting Irish also adopted a leprechaun as their team mascot. Another famous Lucky the Leprechaun—this one the mascot of the popular Lucky Charms breakfast cereal—made his debut in 1964. The Leprechaun horror film series launched in 1993 introduced audiences to Lubdan, a homicidal leprechaun played by actor Warwick Davis.

In 2011, a wilderness area known as the Sliabh Foy Mountain located in Ireland’s Cooley Peninsula received official environmental protection from the European Union (EU). This was under an EU European Habitats Directive. According to lore, this locale is reputed to contain the last concentration of leprechauns in Ireland. Online postings likened the EU action as having provided official protections to leprechauns.

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