"So what is a Leprechaun? The modern Leprechaun is a small gnome-like creature that hails from Ireland. They are short little people often depicted as being plump and happy. They wear green clothing and often have beards. We see them as clever tricksters that can be caught for either the typical pot of gold or in some cases three wishes. Believe it or not the modern veiw of Leprechauns is not the original version that existed in Irish folklore.

According to the research of Evans-Wentz one receives an image of the Leprechaun as small, yet perfect in every way who inhabits rocks or caves and guards a sack of gold. His hat is red and sometimes he is to be found near springs. The leprechaun has several distinct virtues: He is crafty and can not be caught. When caught he must be honest and grant requests or tell you where his money is. He is also generous- when caught he will give his money away without a fight. Having put so much gold aside he must be a hard worker and must also be thrifty.

What is meant by perfect in every way? The Leprechaun is not a Gnome or dwarf- he is "perfect in every way". Dwarfs and Gnomes have big heads and stubby bodies. Although perfect in his small way his perfection is that of a worker and craftsman. The Leprechaun is a well dressed craftsman and appears as a shoemaker.

(From: The Fairy-Faith in Celtic Countries W.Y. Evans-Wentz 1911)

Here are a few accounts of some actual eye witness...

"My mother once saw a leprechaun beside a bush hammering. He disappeared before she could get to him, but he also was unlike one of the gentry."-p47 Peasant Seer, County Sligo

"The leprechaun is a red-capped fellow who stays round pure springs, generally shoemaking for the rest of the fairy tribes"- p.52 Patrick Waters, Tailor, Cloontipruckilish

"One day ,in her girlhood, near a hedge from which she was gathering wild berries she saw a leprechaun in a hole under a stone:--He wasn 't much larger than a doll, and he was most perfectly formed , with a little mouth and eyes. Nothing was told about the little fellow having a money-bag, although the woman said people told her afterwards that she would have been rich if she had only had sense enough to catch him when she had so good a chance."- p;71 Dr. Hyde, Ratra

"....a leprechaun which had been appearing to school-children and to many of the country-folk. .....Most of them were certain that there could be such a creature showing itself....were all quite anxious to have a chance at the money-bag, if they could only see the little fellow with it. I told one good natured old Irishman at Ballywillan......that the leprechaun was reported as captured by the police in Mullingar. "Now that couldn't be, at all, " he said instantly, "for everybody knows the leprechaun is a spirit and can't be caught by any blessed policeman, though it is likely one might get his gold if they got him cornered so he had no chance to run away. But the minute you wink or take your eyes off the little devil, sure enough he is gone."- p. 71 ,Ballywillan and Mullingar.

"The leprechaun indicates the place where hidden treasures is to be found. If the person to whom he reveals such a secret makes it known to a second person, the first person dies, or else no money is found: In some cases the money is changed into ivy leaves or into furze blossoms." -P.82 Lough Gur

"Among the usually invisible races which I have seen in Ireland I distinguish five classes: 1. There are the Gnomes who are earth-spirits, and who seem to be a sorrowful race. I once saw some of them distinctly on the side of Ben Bulbin. They had rather round heads and dark thick set bodies, and in stature were about two and one half feet. 2. The Leprechauns are different, being full of mischief, though they, too, are small. I followed a leprechaun from the town of Wicklow out to the Carraig Sidhe, "Rock of the fairies, " a distance of half a mile or more, where he disappeared. He had a very merry face, and beckoned to me with his finger"-p243, Mrs. X a cultured Irishwoman living in County Dublin." 1


1. http://www.pagerealm.com/windseeker/leprechaun.html