According to legend, Leprechauns resemble small, bearded, old men that stand no more than 2 feet high. They are usually dressed looking like a shoemaker, complete with a cocked hat and apron. They are said to be playful and very mischievous, with the ability to use magic. They are often linked with protecting a pot of gold. However, the gold they protect doesn’t actually belong to them. This treasure was left behind by the Danes (invaders from Denmark that invaded Ireland over a thousand years ago) and the leprechauns discovered it and split it amongst themselves, each protecting his own golden horde.

Leprechauns are said to live amongst the ancient burial mounds, called Raths and Barrows (remember the barrows in the lord of the rings?), that are widespread across the whole country. These barrows are believed to be portals into another place called Tir na n’Og (the land of youth) where the little people are said to have come from. To violate one of these ancient structures is a serious offense and can bring trouble down on you.

A well documented case occurred in 1960, in Wexford, when a construction crew wanted to sink power cable pylons into the earth. They began to dig holes through a local barrow mound that was over 2000 years old. But no matter how many times they set the pylons into the holes, come the next day the metal structures were found thrown aside. Locals warned the workers that they would never succeed in getting those pylons to stay up, as the leprechauns that were believed to reside in the mound wouldn’t allow it. The construction crew ignored this and set the pylons with concrete, which even a tractor couldn’t have moved afterwards. He also asked some of his workers to stay behind and make sure no-one went near the site. Yet, come the next morning, the pylons, complete with their concrete bases, were found scattered around the nearby fields - yet the sentries which the construction foreman had asked to watch over the site, never heard a thing.

Its said that if you follow a rainbow to where it touches the earth, here you will find a leprechaun’s pot of gold. But following a rainbow isn’t easy, as they keep moving away from you. Another way of getting your hands on the riches is to catch the leprechaun himself. If you are quick enough to manage this task, the little fellow is said to have to grant you 3 wishes or great wealth. He carries two leather pouches. In one there is a silver shilling, a magical coin that returns to the purse each time it is paid out. In the other he carries a gold coin which he uses to try and bribe his way out of difficult situations. This coin usually turns to leaves or ashes once the leprechaun has parted with it. Also, if you take your eye off the leprechaun even for a second (and he often tricks them into looking away) , he will vanish into thin air - never to be seen again.

The name leprechaun is either derived from the Irish leath bhrogan (shoemaker), or luacharma’n (Irish for pygmy).

Overall, Leprechauns are believed to represent an ancient race of Irish called the Tuatha de Danann. These people lived in Ireland over 4000 years ago and built a lot of the mounds and barrows that still exist today. They are said to have worked powerful magic. One day, however, they disappeared without trace. Its believed by many that this ancient race opened the Tir na n’Og portals and moved their whole race through. On certain nights, such as Halloween, its said that these portals open and allow travel between our realm and theirs.