Leprechaun

In Irish mythology, a leprechaun is a type of elf said to inhabit the island of Ireland.

The leprechaun according to folklore

Leprechauns are a class of "faerie folk" associated in Irish mythology and folklore with the Tuatha Dé Danann and other quasi-historical races said to have inhabited Ireland before the arrival of the Celts. Leprechauns and other creatures of Irish mythology are often associated with "faerie forts" or "faerie rings" -- often the sites of ancient (Celtic or pre-Celtic) earthworks.

Related Topics:
Faerie - Tuatha Dé Danann - Celts - Earthworks

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The name "leprechaun" comes from the Irish Gaelic word luprachán, meaning "half-bodied": like other mythological races in the Irish tradition, leprechauns are considered to be partly real, physical creatures and partly spirits.

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An alternative source for the name may be leath bhrogan meaning shoe or shoemaker - the leprechaun is known as the fairy shoemaker of Ireland and is often portrayed working on a shoe. One of the peculiarities of the leprechaun is that he carries a purse with a single shilling that replaces itself when spent.

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