Dwarfs of Ireland: Leprechauns

 The modern depiction of a leprechaun is not supported in the lore. The dwarf dressed in green clothing with red hair and beard is a 19th Century caricature of the Irish. Unfortunately, it came to be fixed in modern people’s minds as to what a leprechaun is. The “Lucky Charms’ Leprechaun” now seems to be the image that people recall.

 

According to William Butler Yeats, leprechauns were dwarfs, who kept themselves apart from the other fairies. Other folklorists debated whether they were either defective children of fairies or degenerate fairies. In the lore, they were usually thought of as solitary fairies.

 

One Celtic myth says that “leprechaun” is a corruption of the Gaelic for “small body.” It connotates the memory of Lugh Lamhfada, the God of Arts and Crafts, who faded with the Christianizing of Europe. Accordingly, “leprechaun” is a corruption of “Lugh-chromain,” which means “little stooping Lugh of the Sidhe.” Lugh, the God, is now remembered as a fairy craftsman.

 

Thought to be shoemakers, leprechauns are quick-witted and intelligent. Yeats said that the leprechaun guarded caches of buried treasures. (Note 1) They are known to bestow luck and treasure if you can catch one. To do so, you have to keep your eyes on them at all times. Otherwise, they will cause mischief to you and your family.

 

Other kinds of leprechauns are the clurichaun and fear dearg. The clurichaun is known for drinking and relaxing with a clay pipe. If the family welcomes one in their home, the clurichaun will protect their food stories and wine. Otherwise, the clurichaun will spoil the food until the family makes offerings to them. In addition, they will ride the family sheep into exhaustion.

 

Meanwhile, the fear dearg (which means “Red Man”) is depicted in all red clothing. Since the fear dearg are the bringers of bad luck, people will avoid them. Yeats believed that the fear dearg did gruesome pranks to unsuspecting people such as bringing them nightmares. Moreover, they can often be seen carrying a burlap sack to abduct people with.

 

Notes:

Note 1. A rainbow would indicate where these caches were.

 

Works Used:

Daimler, Morgan, “A New Dictionary of Fairies: A 21st Century Exploration of Celtic and Related Western European Fairies.” Moon Books: Winchester (UK). 2020.

Ellis, Peter Berresford, “The Mammoth Book of Celtic Myths and Legends.” Constable & Robinson Ltd: London. 2002.