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With their mischievous demeanor and pots of gold at the end of the rainbow, the leprechaun has left an indelible mark on Irish folklore, and made a mark on modern culture. But what are their mythic origins?

From St. Patrick’s Day celebrations to literature and entertainment, the leprechaun’s enduring mystique continues to captivate and charm people around the world… now let’s look at what’s really going on.

✨ Post by Lora O’Brien

We’re taking a no-nonsense look at leprechauns, stripping away the commercial gloss and cultural misrepresentation, to explore their real roots in Irish mythology and authentic Irish folklore. In the literature, they are called also leipreachán, lupracán, luchorpán, lucorpain, lugharcán, lugracán, lupracán, leithbrágan, lubrican, leprehaun, lepreehawn, or lioprachán.

The Leprechaun Origins in Irish Mythology

Leprechauns weren’t always the commercial symbols of luck and mischief we know now. In Irish lore, the first appearance of this particular Sidhe (that I know of) is from Echtra Fergusa Maic Léti, which means the Adventure of Fergus mac Léti (…in the Otherworld, which is implied by the Eachtra genre classification).

Binchy {1952} figured this was a tale from the 700s CE, although a later version is Aidedh Ferghusa meic Léide (The Violent Death of Fergus mac Léti), which appears in the Egerton 1782 Manuscript dated from the early 1500s. In the original story, we are told that Fergus, the above-mentioned King of Ulster, fell asleep on the sea coast: 

Sprites [lucorpain] came to the king and bore him out of his chariot, having first deprived him of his sword. They then carried him as far as the sea, and when his feet touched the sea he became aware of it. At this point he awoke and caught hold of three of them, one in each hand and one on his breasts. ‘Life for life!’ [said the chief dwarf]. ‘Let my three wishes be granted to me’ said Fergus. ‘Thou shalt have anything that is not beyond our power’, said the dwarf [abacc]. So Fergus chose to ask from him a charm for passing under seas and pools and lakes. ‘Thou shalt have it,’ said the dwarf, ‘save one that I bar to thee: thou shalt not go under Loch Rudraige which is in thy own territory.’ Then the sprites gave him herbs [to put] in his ears, and he used to travel about with them underseas.

Binchy, D. A. (1952). Echtra Fergusa Maic Léti.

The later story {O’Grady, 1892} is where we meet a Fairy King and Queen named Bébhó and Iubhdan. Their whole court is described as being ‘less than a doubled fist’ in size.

These stories contain elements of treasures, magical shoes, and wishes, as well as their small stature, which is quite likely where some of the much later leprechaun tales can be traced back to. 

These tales reflect a rich origin in Irish mythology, with some points essentially being very different to what this denizen of the Irish Otherworld became even in authentic Irish folklore, highlighting the leprechaun’s evolution from myth to a modern cultural symbol.

Leprechauns in Irish Folklore

Leprechaun mythology from however long ago made it into our medieval manuscripts, recorded there by monks who seemed to be, in fairness, fascinated by the old tales – whether they believed them or not.

Irish people kept talking about them, and certainly kept encountering them… or at least, they encountered a certain type or race of Otherworldly beings which came to be called leprechauns in Irish culture.

Most often portrayed (or described, upon viewing) as a solitary little old man figure, dressed in green (or sometimes red), this is a shoemaker always seen working on a single shoe, who also guards treasure (usually a purse that always contains coin, or even the classic pot of gold).

They are almost impossible to outwit by any ordinary person. Here is a fairly typical account from County Galway, told in the 1930s:

When I was a small girl oh! much smaller than either of you two! I was sent with my eldest sister your Aunt Jinnie, for a message to a house about two miles distant. Well of course there were no bicycles that time and so we had to take ‘shank’s mare’ for it. Well, I suppose like you we were a bit lazy, and we took the shortcut, through the fields. As we were crossing our second field, we came on to a style, when I suddenly looked up and there on the style was a little man, not quite as big as a sod of turf, and dressed in red, he was sitting as a tailor and was making wax end. (here we asked her how she knew she was making wax end and she replied, that the man next door to them was a shoemaker- hence her knowledge. Well anyhow the little man was there sure enough, and I shouted to my sister “Oh Minnie! Minnie! look at the leprechaun”- you know , not like you we spent our evening telling stories about fairies etc… etc… and indeed as often as I have fingers and toes I had heard of the little man that showed you the gold but, mo lean! when I looked again wasn’t the little man gone, and although we searched and searched, there wasn’t ‘tásg nár túarisg‘ of him. But when coming back, didn’t I find a shilling near the style where I saw him, and as you know a shilling that time was worth a pound now – I thought I was in paradise – so let you keep an eye open now for ‘the little man’.

The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0003, Page 075 – Duchas.ie

There are saltier tales of the Leprechauns’ ‘cousins’; the drunken Clúracán who will guard wine cellars, play mean tricks, and fight anything.

There’s also the more sinister Fear Dearg, who seemed to act as a sort of mercenary soldier for the Fairies, coming at you to right the wrongs done to their people in very nasty and malicious ways. The latter translates as ‘Red Man’, and they were literally dyed red from the blood of their enemies.

Irish storytellers and poets have long been fascinated by leprechauns, weaving their clever, elusive nature into countless tales. Those tales certainly spread worldwide, and something of the Irish fascination with the leprechaun has captured the global imagination.

The Leprechaun Today: Stereotypes and Commercialisation

In the realm of modern media and advertising, the leprechaun has been transformed into a symbol far removed from its origins in Irish folklore. As a historian and custodian of authentic Irish culture, I find this misrepresentation troubling, particularly in its perpetuation of stereotypes.

The commercialisation of leprechauns, especially pronounced around St. Patrick’s Day, offers a distorted lens through which Irish heritage is viewed. We see images of the ‘fighting Irish leprechaun’, the ‘drunken leprechaun’, or the ‘simple, ignorant leprechaun’.

Can anyone say “Begosh and Begorrah”, or “Top o’ the Mornin’ to ya!”? (Please don’t. We don’t.)

These caricatures not only simplify a rich and complex folklore but also echo wider, often negative stereotypes about the Irish people themselves.

[Watch a Video about Irish Stereotypes Here]

It’s essential to question how these symbols are used today and to consider the implications for Irish heritage and folklore. The portrayal of leprechauns in tourism, for instance, paints a romanticised and, at times, misleading picture of Ireland as a land brimming with magic and whimsy.

While this might attract tourists, it often obscures the deeper, more authentic narratives that form the bedrock of our cultural identity.

As I so often say, it’s always worse when we’re doing it to ourselves. Speaking as an Irish Heritage Professional (management and guiding) as well as having studied Cultural Heritage for my Masters in Irish History… Fáilte Ireland need to be really careful, going forward, about hiring numpty Dublin 4 marketing agencies, or worse – British agencies – to promote Irish Heritage.

In conclusion, while leprechauns have indeed transitioned from ancient stories to modern cultural icons, this journey has not been without its challenges. Their enduring presence in literature and media speaks to the lasting power of folklore.

However, the charm of these figures, so deeply rooted in Irish tradition, is often overshadowed by their commercialised and stereotyped portrayals.

As we engage with these representations of the leprechaun, it’s crucial to remember and respect their true place in Irish lore. Only by doing so can we hope to preserve the integrity of our heritage and ensure that the true spirit of Irish folklore continues to enchant and educate, free from the trappings of stereotypes and commercialisation.

Want to Learn More about Leprechauns, and the Fairy Faith in Ireland?

📖 Read Lora’s Book – The Fairy Faith in Ireland: History, Tradition, and Modern Pagan Practice. 🔗

🧚‍♂️Take a Class on Fairy Lore at the Irish Pagan School. 🔗

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