A leprechaun is perhaps the commonly known Irish mythological creature. It is a type of fairy in folklore and leprechauns are generally depicted as solitary creatures in green garb. They are also known to be shoemakers who hide pots of gold at the end of rainbows.
Leprechaun-like creatures rarely appear in Irish mythology and only became prominent in later folklore.
The Anglo-Irish (Hiberno-English) word leprechaun is descended from Old Irish luchorpán or lupracán, via various (Middle Irish) forms such as luchrapán, lupraccán, (or var. luchrupán)
The leprechaun is said to be a solitary creature, whose principal occupation is making and cobbling shoes, and who enjoys practical jokes.
In McAnally's 1888 account, the Leprechaun was not a professional cobbler, but was frequently seen mending his own shoes, as "he runs about so much he wears them out" with great frequency. This is, he claims, the perfect opportunity for a human being to capture the Leprechaun, refusing to release him until the Leprechaun gives his captor supernatural wealth.
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Irish mythology
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