The Faerie Shoemakers of Ireland
© Virginia Marin
- Of all of the legends of Ireland which feature little folk, it is the leprechaun that is the most famous and well loved. A leprechaun is an Irish faerie who sports a height of two-feet. His personality is aloof and unfriendly, preferring, rather, his solitude and living alone. Whether there are opposite gender leprechauns, or not, seems to have been excluded from writings on these beings.
He spends his time making shoes for the faerie folk, and sometimes he will favor a pair on a worthy human in need. His needs are simple, though his dress is remarkably attractive. He wears a dark green tricorn hat emblazoned with a four-leaf clover. The hat is edged in pure gold. Tuffs of thick white hair and eyebrows are quite remarkable. He smokes a pipe. A white shirtwaist is worn with a light green plaid vest - this over britches of darker green. Green stockings complement his black leather shoes with their Pilgrim-type gold buckles. All-in-all he is quite a sight of suaveness. This is misleading because he is a perfidious creature who loves to taunt and tease others.
Near a misty stream in Ireland in the hollow of a tree
Live mystical, magical leprechauns clever as can be.
With pointed ears, turned up toes and little coats of green
The leprechauns busily make their shoes trying hard not to be seen.
Only those who really believe can see these little elves
If we are all believers, we can surely see for ourselves.
One of the symbols of the leprechaun is a three-leaf clover. The story is told that when St. Patrick went to Ireland, he used the three-leaf clover to teach the people about the Trinity of the Godhead - Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
There is a dear little plant that grows in the Isle
'Twas St. Patrick himself sure that set it.
And the sun on his labor with pleasure did smile
And a tear from his eyes oft-times wet it.
It grows thro' the bog, thro' the brake, thro' the mireland -
And they call it the dear little Shamrock of Ireland.
In the early 1800s when the simple folk of Ireland had no central government or local clergy to guide them, these little people became a part of daily life in order to explain nature and all of life's happenings. Some say they were invented. Others are not so sure! Where are you?
Start your March celebration with the leprechauns at this lovely St. Patrick's Day Page - There are stories, poems, a kid's page and great links to entice you.
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