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Ireland's Hidden Gems by Susan Byron

Some truths about fairies and leprechauns for St. Patrick's Day - VIDEO

Posted on Tuesday, March 01, 2011 at 09:37 AM

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The truth? There is no such thing as leprechauns in Ireland so apologies to any would be believers in magical crocks of gold. The whole leprechaun thing was more of a Disney invention that came along with the likes of bad ‘oirish’ accents in films such as ‘Darby O’Gill and the Little People’.....

But fairies....they do exist, Oh yes and here in Ireland we do not mess with the fairies, ever! They are known to live in very special places called fairy rings, which are raised earthen circular mounds that you will see all over Ireland.

You are welcome to visit them, walk around them, make a wish by all means .... But it is thought to be very bad luck to interfere with these mounds. Driving motorways through them, Bad Very Bad....Certain trees are revered too, especially hawthorns which country people will never chop down or remove for fear of disturbing the fairies who often live underneath and who are likely to wreak havoc if disturbed? ie, sour milk, cause crops to fail, animals to sicken and die.....

So don’t say ye haven’t been warned !

No one knows more about fairies in Ireland then Eddie Lenihan a gifted story teller or Seanchai who lives in Clare, you has collected his stories from all over Ireland. This is one of his best....

If you ever get a chance to listen to one of his sessions, dont miss it you will be in for a treat. Or indeed if you are hauled up on a high stool in a pub somewhere, someday, it wont be long before a good story telling session will start?

For more about how St Patricks Day is celebrated in Ireland visit www.irelands-hidden-gems.com/st-patrick.html

Or download the free iPhone app http://itunes.apple.com/ie/app/st-patricks-day/id359998636?mt=8

Author Susan Byron of http://www.irelands-hidden-gems.com/

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bunkerhill | Mar 09, 2012, 05:08 PM EST

To everyone's distress, I will repeat once again the pronouncement of an Irishman when asked if he believe in fairies. "Of course not," he replied, "but they are there. Did you know that Iceland protected the sites of the "little people" into the 1900's and for all I know they might still be doing it. Of course the Icelanders always claimed they were indeed at least half Irish so I am not quite sure where the "little people" legend came from. DNA has now proven the Icelandic claim that many of them were originally Irish as fact. Given the huge size of many of the Irish, especially in the Clare, Galway area, possibly the legend of the "little people" is based on some fact. Anyway my wife likes to watch Tinkerbell so who knows.

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jamieLM | Mar 09, 2012, 10:16 AM EST

Disney was known to "borrow" characters from other sources and put his own spin on them. I don't know why the Irish can't have their fairies and leprechauns. The Germans and German-Am. have their gnomes and the Norwegians and Norwegian-Am. have their trolls - male and female - and a specific one for all kinds of things.

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sidhemajik | Mar 08, 2012, 08:18 PM EST

I believe in fairies and in fact I build lovely houses of stone and wood for them to live in. I call them Wee Cottages. I enjoy my fairy friends and allies. Isn't magic grand!

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reelkate | Mar 08, 2012, 07:55 PM EST

I heartily disagree with Susan that leprechauns are largely a Disney invention. First of all, they're considered part of the fairy group, so put them back in their rightful category, not separate as cartoon characters. Leprechauns were first mentioned in a medieval tale, just a wee bit before Walt came on the scene. I think we can all agree that Hallmark, Disney and others have given leprechauns a commercial spin and a boring homogenous look, but they're far from a California creation. Please, Susan, do your homework as a journalist and learn more about the rich variety of leprechauns in different parts of Ireland and the centuries-old tales about these fascinating creatures. And don't be so arrogant in stating they don't exist.

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AMWilson | Mar 08, 2012, 05:27 PM EST

Since most of the fairies are now homeless because their fort in Kerry was torn down, I assume that they've all been flooding the job fair in Cork.

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Reilleyfam | Mar 08, 2012, 01:40 PM EST

Fairies in Ireland? Dont they mainly hang out at the "Gentlemans Club?"

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Jerry Kelly | Mar 08, 2012, 12:51 PM EST

Le meas, a Susan, tá scéalta go leor againn faoi leipreacháin againn inár mbéaloideas. Agus nuair a ndearna Disney "Darby O'Gill 7 Na Daoine Beaga", phioc sé gach caractéar osnádúrtha dá scéal (.i. na daoine beaga, an púca, an cóste bodhar, an bhean sidhe) go díreach as ár dtraidisiún. An rud amháin go bhfuair sé go cearr ná cuma, guth, 7 caoineadh na mná sidhe. ///// With respect, Susan, we have plenty of stories about leprechauns in our folklore. And when Disney made "Darby O'Gill and the Little People", he picked each supernatural character for his story (i.e., the little people, the pooka, the 'muffled coach', and the banshee) directly out of our tradition. The only thing he got wrong was the appearance, voice, and keening of the banshee. Le gach dea-ghuí / Best, - Jerry

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Greenfire | Mar 07, 2012, 10:34 PM EST

Like a wee lad once said, "Believing is seeing.".

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jacersagain | Mar 16, 2011, 07:15 PM EDT

Susan, you forgot to add Banshees to your mention of Leprechauns and Faeries. On St. Patrick’s Day, tomorrow, at 6pmEST (11pm Irish time) America’s NBC station, as part of their “Destination Truth” series, will broadcast live from Duckett’s Grove Castle in Co. Carlow, Ireland, as they film the night-time goings-on there, hoping the Castle’s banshee makes an appearance. You can watch it live on the internet at (wx3)syfy(dot)com/destinationtruth from 6pmEST.

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patchy39 | Mar 08, 2011, 10:01 AM EST

What in God's name was this fella talking about?? Good grief he never explained what happened to the priest and the "dog" come on will yea do not publish anymore drivel like this or was it meant for 2yr olds!

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gwen1980 | Mar 06, 2011, 10:02 PM EST

he is brilliant, would listen all day to his stories

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jongena | Mar 06, 2011, 02:09 PM EST

Maybe if we had more Seanchai (storytellers) we would listen more, talk less, there would be less 'noise' and we would finally hear one another and what is really important....... which storyteller would you rather listen to, Eddie Lenihan or Charlie Sheen??? duh, a no brainer!

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gcwfromcanada | Mar 06, 2011, 01:20 PM EST

I might believe in fairies but do they believe in me?

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Murph46 | Mar 06, 2011, 11:54 AM EST

I thought most of the fairies turned into priests!

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SeamusMor | Mar 06, 2011, 09:55 AM EST

I don't believe in leprechauns! (But I know they are there!)

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