The Leprechaun
In Irish folklore, the leprechaun is a solitary little shoemaker with a hidden pot of gold. Catch him, and he must tell you where it is, if you don't look away.
What was reported
The leprechaun is one of the best-known figures of Irish folklore: a small, bearded man, traditionally a shoemaker, who lives alone and hides a crock of gold. Anyone who catches one can demand the treasure, but the leprechaun always tricks his captor into looking away, and vanishes.
Older stories link leprechauns to a medieval tale of water sprites. The village of Carlingford, in County Louth, has made leprechauns part of its identity, with festivals and a local campaign to have them recognised as a protected species.
Explanations offered
The leprechaun is a folklore figure, now so famous that it has become a symbol of Ireland around the world. The cheerful green-coated version is mostly a modern creation; older stories describe a grumpier, red-coated figure.
- When
- Told for centuries
- Where
- Carlingford, County Louth, Ireland
- Witnesses
- Irish tradition
- Status
- Legend
Famous cases are real, widely reported events. Each file sets out what witnesses said and the explanations that have been offered, without taking a side.