Catch a Leprechaun in Your Garden

There is no mention to be found of femaleThere is no mention to be found of female
leprechauns in traditional Irish legend, so as to howleprechauns in traditional Irish legend, so as to how
they came to be .. your guess is as good as mine.they came to be .. your guess is as good as mine.
These apparently aged, diminutive men areThese apparently aged, diminutive men are
hard-working cobblers, turning out exquisite shoes forhard-working cobblers, turning out exquisite shoes for
other sprites. If you happen across an industrious littleother sprites. If you happen across an industrious little
fellow hammering out a shoe, look closely - for hefellow hammering out a shoe, look closely - for he
may be a leprechaun. Step quietly, for leprechauns willmay be a leprechaun. Step quietly, for leprechauns will
avoid humans, knowing us to be foolish and greedy.avoid humans, knowing us to be foolish and greedy.
A leprechaun dresses in old-fashioned clothes ofA leprechaun dresses in old-fashioned clothes of
green, with a red cap, multi-pocketed leather apron,green, with a red cap, multi-pocketed leather apron,
and buckled shoes. He is quite fond of a smoke fromand buckled shoes. He is quite fond of a smoke from
his foul smelling clay pipe which is always close by,his foul smelling clay pipe which is always close by,
and he is frequently in an intoxicated state fromand he is frequently in an intoxicated state from
home-brew poteen. However, a leprechaun neverhome-brew poteen. However, a leprechaun never
becomes so drunk that the hand which holds thebecomes so drunk that the hand which holds the
hammer becomes unsteady and his shoemaker'shammer becomes unsteady and his shoemaker's
work affected. If you hear the sound of a hammerwork affected. If you hear the sound of a hammer
from behind a hedgerow you know you have foundfrom behind a hedgerow you know you have found
him.him.
As well as cobbling, his other trade is banking, and heAs well as cobbling, his other trade is banking, and he
is guardian to the ancient treasures. Much treasureis guardian to the ancient treasures. Much treasure
was left by the Danes when they marauded throughwas left by the Danes when they marauded through
Ireland, and the leprechaun buries it in crocks or pots.Ireland, and the leprechaun buries it in crocks or pots.
Rainbows reveal where pots of gold are hidden, soRainbows reveal where pots of gold are hidden, so
he will sometimes spend all day moving crocks fromhe will sometimes spend all day moving crocks from
one spot to another to elude the tell-tale end of theone spot to another to elude the tell-tale end of the
rainbow. If you catch a leprechaun, don't let him outrainbow. If you catch a leprechaun, don't let him out
of your grasp before he reveals his gold. He'll try toof your grasp before he reveals his gold. He'll try to
distract you with all manner of tricks and, in the blinkdistract you with all manner of tricks and, in the blink
of an eye, will dash out of sight. For such a sturdyof an eye, will dash out of sight. For such a sturdy
little chap, he can move with the speed of a rabbit.little chap, he can move with the speed of a rabbit.
He carries two leather pouches. In one there is aHe carries two leather pouches. In one there is a
silver shilling, a magical coin that returns to the pursesilver shilling, a magical coin that returns to the purse
each time it's spent. In the other there is a gold coineach time it's spent. In the other there is a gold coin
for bribing his way out of difficult situations. (Don'tfor bribing his way out of difficult situations. (Don't
accept this coin - it turns into a rock). But he can beaccept this coin - it turns into a rock). But he can be
generous if you do him a good turn. Your kind deedgenerous if you do him a good turn. Your kind deed
wil be repaid with a wish.wil be repaid with a wish.
Leprechauns come in two distinct groups - leprechaunLeprechauns come in two distinct groups - leprechaun
and cluricaun. A cluricaun dresses very stylishly with aand cluricaun. A cluricaun dresses very stylishly with a
jaunty cap, large silver buckles on his shoes, beautifuljaunty cap, large silver buckles on his shoes, beautiful
gold laces and pale blue stockings. You will never seegold laces and pale blue stockings. You will never see
him wear an apron or carry a hammer. He has a jollyhim wear an apron or carry a hammer. He has a jolly
grin, a slightly pink-tipped nose and is almost alwaysgrin, a slightly pink-tipped nose and is almost always
drunk and cheerful. Pass him by, for he never hasdrunk and cheerful. Pass him by, for he never has
any money, or any idea where treasure is buried.any money, or any idea where treasure is buried.
A cluricaun will steal or borrow almost anything,A cluricaun will steal or borrow almost anything,
making merry and creating mayhem in your housemaking merry and creating mayhem in your house
during the hours of darkness. He will happily busyduring the hours of darkness. He will happily busy
himself raiding your kitchen, pantry, larder and cellarhimself raiding your kitchen, pantry, larder and cellar
and after dinner he will harness your sheep, goats,and after dinner he will harness your sheep, goats,
dogs and even your domestic fowls to ridedogs and even your domestic fowls to ride
away.Through the countryside he will race them,away.Through the countryside he will race them,
over the fields and into the bog. Leprechaunsover the fields and into the bog. Leprechauns
denounce cluricaun behavior, but it has been said thatdenounce cluricaun behavior, but it has been said that
cluricauns may just be leprechauns on drunkencluricauns may just be leprechauns on drunken
sprees.sprees.
You can make a trap with common household items.You can make a trap with common household items.
Take a net, a cardboard box, green paint, greenTake a net, a cardboard box, green paint, green
tissue paper, some pennies and an old shoe. Firstly,tissue paper, some pennies and an old shoe. Firstly,
paint the cardboard box green and place the old shoepaint the cardboard box green and place the old shoe
inside. Cover the opening with thin green tissue paper.inside. Cover the opening with thin green tissue paper.
Carefully lay the pennies on the tissue paper. (If youCarefully lay the pennies on the tissue paper. (If you
don't want to use real money, you can easilydon't want to use real money, you can easily
substitute chocolate gold- wrapped coins or makesubstitute chocolate gold- wrapped coins or make
your own by cutting circles out of cardboard andyour own by cutting circles out of cardboard and
painting them gold).painting them gold).
Place the trap near some trees or hedgerows. MakePlace the trap near some trees or hedgerows. Make
sure it's disguised well and blends into thesure it's disguised well and blends into the
surroundings. When the Leprechaun sees the coins hesurroundings. When the Leprechaun sees the coins he
will try to collect them. He will step onto the tissuewill try to collect them. He will step onto the tissue
paper, it will break and he will fall into the box. Nowpaper, it will break and he will fall into the box. Now
quickly throw the net over him.quickly throw the net over him.
You can also try to lure a leprechaun with someYou can also try to lure a leprechaun with some
poteen instead of an old shoe. When he falls into thepoteen instead of an old shoe. When he falls into the
box he will drink the brew, get drunk and then youbox he will drink the brew, get drunk and then you
can grab him.can grab him.
No one has yet caught a leprechaun, but don't beNo one has yet caught a leprechaun, but don't be
discouraged. Start looking today. Good luck !!discouraged. Start looking today. Good luck !!