Three things you might not know about Leprechauns

1. Ireland’s most famous Leprechaun Story dates from 1989, the late 20th century

Tales of leprechauns of course stretch back hundreds, if not thousands of years, but in Ireland the little people are ever present. Back in 1989 in Carlingford, County Louth, a pub proprietor called P.J O’Hare was walking across a plot of land when he heard a small, stifled scream come from a well standing on the land. He went to investigate and found the skeletal remains of a leprechaun as well as his tiny little leprechaun clothes beside the well. The skeletal remains of the leprechaun quickly fell into dust, mere minutes after he found them but he ended up putting the items of clothing on display in his pub which attracted sight seers from far and wide.

This incident is so famous in Ireland that every year on a weekend close to the first day of the Irish summer, Carlingford holds an annual ceramic Leprechaun Hunt. The next Leprechaun hunt is due to take place on April 7th 2014

2. Leprechauns are a protected species under European Union Law

Thanks to major lobbying that came about because of the above mentioned celebration of leprechauns in Carlingford, Co. Louth, Leprechauns have been protected since 2009 in a European Directive.

The European Directive aims to preserve an area in Louth called ‘The Sliabh Foy Loop’ which is protected for flora, fauna and leprechauns.
The lobbyists believe that there are only 236 leprechauns still living in Ireland and that they are all concentrated in that area in Louth which is also considered to be an important part of the spirit world.

3. Leprechauns are considered ‘good luck’ symbols in Hollywood

There have been two instances in which Leprechauns have helped launch the careers of two very well-known Hollywood actors.

Firstly, Sean Connery got his big break for the James Bond films when Disney held an advanced screening of ‘Darby O’Gill and the Little People’ at its Burbank Studio to which they invited several movie producers, including the ‘Bond’ producer Albert R. Broccoli. Connery was so charming in the lead role of this Leprechaun Film and was somehow able to convey so much sex appeal, even in a family-friendly Disney film that Broccoli’s wife urged the producer to give him the role of James Bond.

Secondly, the 1993 film ‘Leprechaun’ was very lucky for ‘Friends’ star Jennifer Aniston. Jennifer made her big screen debut in this horror film which then spawned 5 sequels and launched her Hollywood career.