A leprechaun is a tiny fairy-like being in the form of an old man, sometimes with a cocked hat and a leather apron. He is said to live in remote, hidden places, and make shoes and brogues for the fairies. He possesses hidden treasure. If he is caught and threatened, he may, if his captor keeps looking at him, reveal the hiding place of the treasure. Usually, however, he manages to trick his captor into glancing away – and vanishes.

Leprechauns are special to Ireland and Irish folklore.

William Allingham’s poem, The Leprecaun or Fairy Shoemaker, gives a delightful picture of a leprechaun tapping away at his shoemaking and singing to himself as he works. Here is an extract:

I caught him at work one day, myself,
In the castle-ditch, where foxglove grows,–
A wrinkled, wizen’d and bearded Elf,
Spectacles stuck on his pointed nose,
Silver buckles to his hose,
Leather apron-shot in his lap –
“Rip-rap, tip-tap,
Tick-tack-too!
(A grasshopper on my cap!
Away the moth flew!)
Buskins for a fairy prince,
Brogues for his son,–
Pay me well, pay me well,
When the job is done! ”