The Leprechaun

Fairies fill Irish folklore. These make-believe creatures can assume various human or animal forms. They love music and may even lead humans astray with their pipe and fiddle playing and singing. Irish fairies fall into two main groups: sociable and solitary. Perhaps the best known of the solitary fairies are the leprechauns. The name leprechaun is derived from the old Irish word luacharma'n, which means "little body" or "pygmy".

Leprechauns have the distinction of being the most solitary of the solitaries, avoiding contact with humans, other fairies, and even other leprechauns! These 2 feet tall, unfriendly, gruff men (there are no female leprechauns) prefer to pass their time making shoes for other fairies. They usually wear a green coat, a green hat, and a shoemaker's apron.

Due to their thrifty nature, they are trusted to guard fairy treasures and hide their pots of gold very carefully. But rainbows and the sound of a shoemaker's hammer provide humans with clues as to the whereabouts of a leprechaun and his hidden treasure. According to legend, if you catch one, you can threaten him with bodily harm and force him to tell you where the treasure is hidden. But, you must keep your eyes on him every second. If the leprechaun tricks you into looking away (and he will try to trick you into doing so - they are very clever little creatures), he'll quickly disappear, taking his treasure with him!