THERE are so many extraordinary and fantastic creatures in legends and folktales that it is quite difficult to believe that most of them really existed. Even though a lot might have been exaggerated or lost in translation as these tales have come down to us through many ages and lost civilisations, it has been proven time and again that there is so much around us that we do not know about and much more to the natural and unseen world than meets the eye, especially when it comes to creatures of fantasy and fairytales. One of which is the ‘Leprechaun’.

Leprechauns have been thought as a kind of fairy or sprite, however, legend speaks different. There is an entire epic in Irish folklore about these short men with long beards; there are also many ancient legends about the Leprechauns and interestingly, not all of them refer to the same type of creature. But one thing is common in all of the accounts — the magic that surrounds them.

In fact, (or let’s say fantasy), the very beginning of the race is steeped in magic. Going as far back as Irish folkloric history takes us to the origin of the tricky creature, it is said that they are descendants of the “Tuatha De Danann”. They were a group of heroes and gifted people lead by a man named Lugh the Long-Armed warrior, who is said to have used the rainbow as a sling, (talk about a long arm)! These interesting people came to Ireland in ships much before the Celtic army invaded and took over Ireland 2,500 years ago.

The Tuatha de Danann were very strong people who could not be defeated due to their magical powers. Legend states that they visited four mystical cities before their arrival in Ireland and the head druids of the four cities each gave them a magical souvenir. The Celts finally found out the secret to defeating them — iron swords! And that is how they drove them underground, literally! The Tuatha de Danann created magical entrances beneath the surface where they finally escaped and that is where they built their kingdom and living quarters.

This is why it is said that a Leprechaun can appear or disappear whenever he wishes. The entrances into the damp soil of Ireland’s underground are known only to this race; they were short, red-haired, long-bearded fellows, dressed in red or green and have a love for gold. They earned their living or pass their time is said to be by making shoes for the fairy folk and nature sprites. They also loved playing the harp and the tin whistle and according to the folktales, they were pretty good at it.

An 18th Century Irish poet William Allingham writes their descriptions as, “A wrinkled wizened and bearded elf, spectacles stuck on his pointed nose, silver buckles to his hose, (belt), leather apron – shoe in his lap…”

Though the Leprechaun is believed to disappear in the wink of an eye into his magical doorway beneath the ground, if ever one is captured, he can grant his captor three wishes in return for his freedom. How one can capture him is not something this scribe is well practiced in but it is said that people interested in such a feat would construct a specific kind of trap or something. They are known to be cunning little fellows and have many tricks up their sleeves to escape capture by humans.

Though the race called Tuatha de Danann did in fact came to Ireland in its ancient past, there have been so many accounts written about the history of the land by so many people that one does not know how much is actually true and to what extent. But according to the Book of Invasions, (Lebor Gabala Erenn), these people are said to have arrived in their ships amid mists of black smoke for three days. A more logical account says that they came in so many ships that the black clouds that rose from the smoke covered the entire region in dark mists. The ships were not flying, as some say, but were sailing into the Irish coast by the sea. To top it all, The Book of Invasions is said to be a mythological account of ancient Irish history. It is mostly a compilation of legendary tales and poems.

So when they initially arrived, according to the book, this supernatural race consisted of tall, fair, brave, artistic and redheaded men. But I guess all these years of living underground may have shortens their height! No matter, if one can appear and disappear into an underground kingdom, have pots of gold at the end of a rainbow and trade with the fairy folk, play wonderful music and grant wishes with magic, a bit of a height problem does not matter much. What do you say?