The Leprechauns...

A wrinkled, wizen'd, and bearded Elf,
Spectacles stuck on his pointed nose,
Silver buckles to his hose,
Leather apron — shoe in his lap
William Allingham...18th Century Irish Poet

The name leprechaun is derived from the Irish word leipreachán. The earliest known reference to the leprechaun appears in the medieval tale known as the Echtra Fergus mac Léti. The text contains an episode in which Fergus mac Léti, King of Ulster, falls asleep on the beach and wakes to find himself being dragged into the sea by three lúchorpáin. He captures his abductors, who grant him three wishes in exchange for release.

Do not think the fairies always little. Everything is capricious about them, even their size, and they seem to take whatever size or shape pleases them. Their chief occupations are feasting, fighting, making love, and playing the most beautiful music. They have only one industrious person amongst them, the leprechaun - the shoemaker. Perhaps they wear their shoes out with dancing. Near the village of Ballisodare is a little woman who lived amongst them seven years. When she came home she had no toes--she had danced them off! Tis true!

These apparently aged, diminutive men are frequently to be found in an intoxicated state, caused by their home-brew poteen. However, they never become so drunk that the hand which holds the hammer becomes unsteady and their shoemaker's work affected.

The leprechaun 'family' appears split into two distinct groups - leprechaun and cluricaun. Cluricauns may steal or borrow almost anything, creating mayhem in houses during the hours of darkness, raiding wine cellars and larders. They will also harness sheep, goats, dogs and even domestic fowl and ride them throughout the country at night. Although the leprechaun has been described as Ireland's national fairy, this name was originally only used in the north Leinster area. Variants include lurachmain, lurican, lurgadhan.