March 17, 2025 • 28 mins
It’s St. Patrick’s Day! Time to celebrate all things Irish – including the holiday’s unofficial mascot: The leprechaun. But how much do you really know about the little guy? We’ll cover some of what you already know – and also what you don’t yet know, about these little fairies known as leprechauns.
CHAPTERS & TIME STAMPS (All Times Approximate)…
00:00:00.000 = Disclaimer and Short Fiction Story, “Clever Tom”
00:02:44.827 = Show Open
00:03:51.235 = Leprechauns, The Irish Trickster
00:18:59.204 = Leprechaunism (Donahue Syndrome)
00:22:11.641 = Real Leprechauns
00:27:20.694 = Show Close, Verse, Final Thought
SOURCES AND RESOURCES FROM THE EPISODE…
Short fiction story, “Clever Tom” adapted from the original by Linda Shute: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/2p89pja6
“Leprechauns, The Irish Trickster” by Benjamin Radford for Live Science: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/aerm6n44
“Mills Park Facts” by Jennifer M. Wood for Mental Floss: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/2kva2txu
“The Bizarre True Story of Leprechauns” by Jack Beresford for Irish Post: (link no longer available)
“The Crichton Leprechaun” by Lawrence Specker for AL.com: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/4ddescxp
VIDEO: Leprechaun in Mobile: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nda_OSWeyn8
=====
Darkness Syndicate members get the ad-free version. https://weirddarkness.com/syndicate
Info on the next LIVE SCREAM event. https://weirddarkness.com/LiveScream
Info on the next WEIRDO WATCH PARTY event. https://weirddarkness.com/TV
=====
(Over time links seen above may become invalid, disappear, or have different content. I always make sure to give authors credit for the material I use whenever possible. If I somehow overlooked doing so for a story, or if a credit is incorrect, please let me know and I will rectify it in these show notes immediately. Some links included above may benefit me financially through qualifying purchases.)
= = = = =
"I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness." — John 12:46
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WeirdDarkness® is a registered trademark. Copyright ©2025, Weird Darkness.
=====
Originally aired: March 17, 2021
EPISODE PAGE at WeirdDarkness.com (includes list of sources): https://weirddarkness.com/Leprechauns
CHAPTERS & TIME STAMPS (All Times Approximate)…
00:00:00.000 = Disclaimer and Short Fiction Story, “Clever Tom”
00:02:44.827 = Show Open
00:03:51.235 = Leprechauns, The Irish Trickster
00:18:59.204 = Leprechaunism (Donahue Syndrome)
00:22:11.641 = Real Leprechauns
00:27:20.694 = Show Close, Verse, Final Thought
SOURCES AND RESOURCES FROM THE EPISODE…
Short fiction story, “Clever Tom” adapted from the original by Linda Shute: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/2p89pja6
“Leprechauns, The Irish Trickster” by Benjamin Radford for Live Science: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/aerm6n44
“Mills Park Facts” by Jennifer M. Wood for Mental Floss: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/2kva2txu
“The Bizarre True Story of Leprechauns” by Jack Beresford for Irish Post: (link no longer available)
“The Crichton Leprechaun” by Lawrence Specker for AL.com: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/4ddescxp
VIDEO: Leprechaun in Mobile: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nda_OSWeyn8
=====
Darkness Syndicate members get the ad-free version. https://weirddarkness.com/syndicate
Info on the next LIVE SCREAM event. https://weirddarkness.com/LiveScream
Info on the next WEIRDO WATCH PARTY event. https://weirddarkness.com/TV
=====
(Over time links seen above may become invalid, disappear, or have different content. I always make sure to give authors credit for the material I use whenever possible. If I somehow overlooked doing so for a story, or if a credit is incorrect, please let me know and I will rectify it in these show notes immediately. Some links included above may benefit me financially through qualifying purchases.)
= = = = =
"I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness." — John 12:46
= = = = =
WeirdDarkness® is a registered trademark. Copyright ©2025, Weird Darkness.
=====
Originally aired: March 17, 2021
EPISODE PAGE at WeirdDarkness.com (includes list of sources): https://weirddarkness.com/Leprechauns
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Stories and content and weird darkness can be disturbing for
some listeners, and as intended for mature audiences only, parental
discretion is strongly advised. Once upon a time, Clever Tom
found himself walking in the meadow by his home in
(00:21):
rural Ireland when he came across a leprechaun propped up
against a fence post, fast asleep. Tom couldn't believe his eyes.
His grandparents had told him stories about the fairies, but
he assumed they were just fairy tales, not actual fairies.
But this one was in the flesh, an honest to
(00:42):
goodness leprechaun. He knew what that meant. If he could
capture the leprechaun, the fairy creature would be obliged to
lead him to a buried treasure. For a poor farm boy,
this was the chance of a lifetime. Tom seized the
opportunity and the leprechaun. The leprechaun was sleeping, after all,
it wasn't that hard. Startled awake, the leprechaun immediately understood
(01:06):
his mistake. Sighing, he agreed to lead Tom deep into
the forest to the tree under which a treasure was buried.
Tom was overjoyed. This is what he had always waited for.
Tom could finally leave the farm and find adventure in
the big city. But in haste, Tom forgot a shovel
(01:28):
and a wheelbarrow. There was no way he could dig
up the treasure. Even if he did, there was no
way to transport it back to his home. Tom racked
his brain. There had to be an answer, and then
he had it. From his pocket, Tom extracted a bright
red ribbon, tying it around the base of the tree.
He knew it would guide him back to this exact spot.
(01:51):
Before he released the leprechaun. However, Clever Tom showed why
he earned his nickname Clever. He extracted a promise from
the fairy, who, being a fairy, could not tell a lie,
that the leprechaun would not remove the ribbon from the tree.
Satisfied with the positive response, Tom released the leprechaun and
raced home to gather his supplies. When Tom returned, his
(02:14):
heart sank. No. The leprechaun had not removed the ribbon
he promised he wouldn't, but he did tie an identical
ribbon on every other tree for miles in every direction.
Clever Tom wasn't the clever one after all, I'm Darren
(02:35):
Marler and this is Weird Darkness. Welcome, weirdos. I'm Darren
Marler and this is Weird Darkness. Here you'll find stories
(02:59):
of the paranormal, supernatural, legends, lore, crime, conspiracy, mysterious, macabre,
unsolved and unexplained. Coming up in this episode, it's Saint
Patrick's day time to celebrate all things Irish, including the holidays.
Un official mascot the leprekn But how much do you
(03:21):
really know about the little guy? We'll cover some of
what you probably already know and also what you likely
don't yet know about these little fairies known as leprechauns.
Now volt your doors, lock your windows, turn off your lights,
and come with me into the weird Darkness. That's right,
(03:58):
I said fairies. Although they might not match your initial
idea of what a fairy is, leprechauns are considered a
part of the family. Like other fairies, they're small in
size and prone to mischief. Midiature men are said to
be descendants of Tuatha de Denan, a group of magical
beings that served under the Gaelic goddess Danu. According to legend,
(04:21):
this mythical group lived in Ireland long before humans inhabited
the land. The word leprechaan actually means small body. It's
believed to be a variation of the Middle Irish word
leucrapon lou means small and corp means body, so lukorpan
small body. Some sources say Leprechaans are derivatives of the
(04:44):
Irish deity Luke, god of the sun and of arts
and crafts. After the rise of Christianity, Luke's importance was
diminished and he was demoted to a shoemaking folklore character,
that is, a cobbler known as Lug Cromaine. You ever
notice that all the stories and images you've seen of
leprechauns that they always seem to be male. That's because
(05:07):
the leprechaun species has no females. As a way of
explaining why there is no record of female leprechauns and
therefore no way to procreate in the traditional sense, some
sources claim leprechauns are the unwonted children of the fairy community.
As a result, leprechauns are described as grouchy, untrusting, and
(05:27):
solitary creatures. Then again, i'd be grouchy and solitary too,
if I couldn't date. Although the little irishmen are now
synonymous with the color green, they weren't always. Early accounts
of leprechauns described them as wearing red and sporting a
variety of hats, often three cornered hats, although without any
girls to pursue, I'm not really sure why they bother
(05:49):
spiffing up. Also sporting red is the rambunctious Chloricon, a
mythical creature that shares many characteristics with the leprechaun. These
beings are always described as drunk and surly. They're often
seen in stories writing animals at night or clearing out
entire wine cellars. Some accounts explain these troublemakers as the
(06:10):
night form of leprechauns. After a hard day's work, the
bearded fairies get so tipsy they become an entirely different species.
Other stories describe them as a close relative to the leprechaun.
Either way, they sound like men who make lousy drunks.
Leprechauns are known for their money, the pot of gold
(06:31):
being the most obvious, and there's apparently a lot of
money in the cobbling business. As well, since they spend
most of their time alone. Seeing as there are no
leprechaun babes, the tiny green men pour all of their
energy into crafting shoes. In the magical world, most spirits, fairies,
and other creatures have a distinctive sound that is associated
(06:52):
with them. Some entities, such as the Irish fairy Banshee
and the Hispanic spirit La ll Na, are said to
emit a more wornful whale, signifying their presence. In the
case of the Leprechaun, it's the tap tap tapping of
his tiny cobbler hammer driving nails into shoes that announces
they are near. In his collection of Irish fairy and
(07:14):
folk tales, W. B. Yates offered an eighteenth century poem
by William Allingham titled the Leprechaun or Fairy Shoemaker, which
describes the sound. Thus, lay your ear close to the hill,
do you not catch the tiny clamor busy click of
an elfin hammer, voice of the leprechauns singing shrill as
(07:35):
he merrily plies his trade. While some stories attribute the
leprechaun's wealth to the fine shoes they make, others say
they protect the treasure of the entire fairy world. One
tale says leprechauns act like bankers to make sure the
frivolous fairies don't spend all their gems at once. Wherever
(07:57):
there are leprechauns, there are stories of people trying to
steal their gold. The rule is, if you're lucky enough
to catch a leprechaun, you can never take your eyes
off of a moor hi'll disappear. According to Irish legends,
people lucky enough to find a leprechaun and capture him,
or in some stories, steal his magic ring, coin or amulet,
(08:18):
can barter his freedom for his treasure. Leprechauns are usually
said to be able to grant the person three wishes,
much like the magical genie in the lamp, but dealing
with leprechauns can be a tricky proposition. The leprechaun plays
several roles in Irish folklore. He is principally a roguish,
trickster figure who cannot be trusted and will deceive whenever possible.
(08:43):
In her Encyclopedia, Spirits, fairies, leprechauns, and goblins folklores to
Carol Rose offers a typical tale of leprechaun trickery which
I shared at the beginning of this episode, concerning a
boy who managed to get a leprechaun to show in
the bush in the field where his treasure was located.
Having no spade or shovel, the boy marked the tree
with one of his red garters, then kindly released the
(09:05):
sprite and went for a spade. Returning almost instantly, he
found that every one of the numerous trees in the
field sported a red garter. Obviously, the boy should never
have allowed the leprechaun to go free, at least not
until the treasure was found and dug up. The boy
was extremely fortunate to find the fairy asleep, as leprechauns
are practically impossible to catch, but making a leprechaun trap
(09:29):
is possible and a great activity to share with your
children on Saint Patrick's Day. All you need to get
started is something shiny to lure the little men in.
The traps can be as simple as a shoe box,
or elaborate as your family can imagine. Although no one
has caught anything yet, at least not that I know of,
it doesn't hurt to try. Constantly being chased for one's
(09:52):
gold or breakfast cereal can take a toll on any
fairy's demeanor. As a result, leprechauns are distrustful and see
this attitude doesn't mean they won't loosen the purse strings
if touched by a bit of kindness, though, One legend
mentions a down on his nobleman who offered a leprechaun
a ride on his horse. In return, the man returned
(10:13):
to his crumbling castle to find it filled to the
ceiling with gold. Something you might want to keep in
mind if you see a less than one foot tall
humanoid wearing green and sporting a beard, hoping to thumb
a ride on the side of the highway. So where
can you find leprechauns? Ireland may be the first answer
(10:33):
that comes to mind when asked where in the world
you might be most likely to spot a leprechaun, But Portland,
Oregon is home to its very own population, a tiny
pot of gold, love and irishman too. They've even got
a dedicated area, mill EN's Park to prove it. Here's
a bit more about the only leprechaun colony west of Ireland.
(10:55):
Upon his return home from World War II in nineteen
forty six, Dick Fagan went back to work as a
journalist at the Oregon Journal, where his second floor office
overlooked what is now known as Nito Parkway. Amidst all
the traffic and activity that took place outside his window,
began became fascinated with one element of his view. A
(11:15):
tiny hole had been placed in the median for a
light pole. Fagan watched as weeds began to fill in
the spot where the light pole was meant to be installed,
but he wasn't happy with that either, so he planted
some flowers too. Making that tiny hole in the ground
pretty was only the beginning of the attention Fagan began
lavishing upon the space. In his Oregon Journal column, mill Ends,
(11:40):
which like the irregular pieces of leftover lumber it was
named for, shared interesting little stories. He often referenced the
leprechauns who lived in the park. Facan conveniently was the
only person who could see Patrick O'Toole, the leader of
the e leprechaun community. He also apparently spoke to him.
When the mayor of Portland proposed an eleven pm curfew
(12:02):
on all city parks, Fagan published a response from O'Toole,
who threatened a leprechaun curse upon the mayor. The leprechauns
were subsequently allowed to stay due to Fagan's Irish heritage
and the leprechauns who purportedly inhabited the park. Milan's Park
became dedicated as such quite appropriately on March seventeenth, Saint
(12:24):
Patrick's Day nineteen forty eight, twenty eight years after its dedication.
Milan's Park became an official city park in nineteen seventy six,
again on Saint Patrick's Day. Each year, various holiday themed
events take place on this site. This tiny, little two
square foot site, yeah, Milllands Park measures just two square feet,
(12:47):
which seems inadequate size for what Fagan was fond of
describing as the only leprechaun colony west of Ireland. Keenness
World Records has recognized it as the smallest park in
the world since nineteen seventy one. The park has become
something of a must see oddity in Portland, and many
residents and visitors have made their own contributions to its growth.
(13:08):
A tiny swimming pool with a butterfly diving board, statues
and a pint sized ferris wheel which was delivered by
a normal sized crane. Are just a few of its amenities.
In order to accommodate construction on the parkway in two
thousand and six, the park had to be moved temporarily.
It moved back in on March sixteenth, two thousand and seven,
(13:30):
the day before Saint Patrick's Day, with bagpipers playing and
Fagan's wife looking on. Fagan sadly passed away in nineteen
sixty nine. In December twenty eleven, the Occupied Portland movement
installed a flash mob of plastic army men and tiny
signs at the park to illustrate their mission. One of
the demonstrators, Cameron Scott Witten, was arrested when he refused
(13:53):
to leave a week before Saint Patrick's Day. In twenty thirteen,
someone stole the park's one only tree, only to return
it one week later. I can only assume stealing from
leprechauns brings you the opposite of good luck. Just because
you don't personally see the leprechauns at Milands Park or
(14:14):
anywhere else for that matter, it doesn't mean the Leprechauns
aren't real. One man claims to have found evidence that
they truly do exist. In nineteen eighty nine, a local
businessman in Carlingford, Ireland, claimed to have found evidence of
a real leprechaun on a mountain called sleeve By. He
said that after hearing a scream near the wishing well,
(14:35):
he found bones, a tiny suit and gold coins near
scorched earth. The evidence is now displayed behind a glass
case for visitors to come and see. As a result,
a new tradition was born. During an annual leprechaun hunt,
one hundred ceramic leprechauns are hidden on the mountain. Tourists
(14:56):
come every year to try and hunt down the little
green statues. Hunters have to buy a six euro hunter's
license beforehand. In twenty nineteen, the thirtieth anniversary of the
leprechaun bones discovery and the tenth anniversary of their official
European Union recognition, fortune seekers abandoned their mountain search and
(15:16):
instead scoured the town for hidden leprechaun pots, one of
which contained a real bar of gold valued at twelve
hundred europe. If by chance you do stumble upon a leprechaun,
not only do you have to remember never to take
your eyes off of him, you'll also need to keep
in mind that it's illegal to harm him, especially if
(15:37):
you live in sleeve Foy. Apparently there are two hundred
and thirty six leprechauns that still live in the caverns there.
In two thousand and nine, the EU granted heritage status
to the remaining we people. They now have their own
protected sanctuary nestled in the mountain. The directive also protects
the animals and flora in the area to help keep
(15:58):
the biodiversity of the landa But we all know it's
not really about the animals and flora, it's the lepregns.
One aspect of the leprechaun most are not aware of
is that they can live underwater, which might be another
reason why these little fairies are so hard to find.
The earliest known folk tale to feature leprechaun comes from
the Middle Ages. In it, Fergus Macletti, the King of Ulster,
(16:22):
falls asleep by the beach. He awakens to find three
lucrepon attempting to drag him into their under sea layer.
The king captures them, but releases them after he has
promised three wishes. The story suggests the mythical men are
sea dwellers, but modern takes on the myth do not
often include this lifestyle detail. Personally, I say we embrace
(16:44):
this and insist they get a cameo in the next
Aquaman movie. You may not be a leprechaun yourself, although
I don't really know. I have a lot of people
listening to the podcast you might be. But anyway, if
you are not, and you have the desire to be one,
you can dress up as one and do so for charity.
Every March there are marathons all over the country that
(17:06):
encourage the participants to dress like leprechauns. The festive runners
help raise money for charity while getting in the Saint
Patrick's Day spirit. Hopefully the ron is before all the
merriment that requires beer. And if you are a leprechaun
listening to the podcast, drop me a note. I'd love
to hear from you, and I promise I'm not interested
in your goal. As with many old legends and traditions,
(17:27):
the image and nature of the leprechaun has changed over
time and has been updated and in some cases sanitized
for a modern audience. Lucky, the Leprechaun mascot of General
Mills Breakfast Cereal, Lucky Charms is probably the best known
fairy of this type. The nineteen fifty nine Disney movie
Darby O'Gill and the Little People also influenced how many
(17:49):
people think of the we folk. On the other end
of the spectrum, there is the homicidal Leprechaun in the
Leprechaun horror comedy film series, played by Willow actor Warwick Days.
For generations, some Irish have been annoyed by leprechauns and
the ethnic stereotypes they perpetuate, and for most Americans, leprechauns
(18:09):
only appear around Saint Patrick's Day. But if you somehow
miss the celebrations on March seventeenth, or just need another
excuse to celebrate the we folk, you can observe Leprecaun Day,
which is on May thirteenth, giving you one more opportunity
during the year to get blind, drunk, and blame it
on a holiday. Leprechauns offer a morality tale figure whose
(18:31):
fables worn against the folly of trying to get rich,
quick take what's not rightfully yours, or interfere with the
good folk and other magical preachers. Belief in leprechauns and
other fairies was once widespread on the Emerald dial and
real or not, they will continue to amuse and delight
us for centuries more. While leprechauns are mythical beings, a
(19:06):
rare disease sometimes called leprechanism is very real. Lepreconism, also
known as Donahue syndrome, is an extremely rare disorder characterized
by abnormal resistance to insulin. Some researchers prefer to say
Donahue syndrome because lepreconism may be viewed as pejorative by families.
(19:27):
According to the online Mendallian Inheritance in Man, an online
catalog of human genes and genetic disorders, lepreconism or Donahue
syndrome is a recessive genetic disorder which occurs when an
individual inherits two copies of an abnormal gene for the
same trait. Babies with the disorder are usually small before
(19:47):
and after birth. According to the National Institutes of Health.
They experience failure to thrive, which means they have low
birth weight and do not gain weight at the expected rate.
They often lack mon muscle mass and may also have
very low body fat under the skin. Characteristics of the
syndrome also include abnormally large, low set, and poorly developed ears,
(20:11):
a wide, flat nose with upturned nostrils, large thick lips
and a large mouth, and widely spaced, bulging eyes. Affected
babies may also have an abnormally small head or microcephaly.
There may be excessive hair growth. Most affected individuals have
a skin condition called asynthosis migracons, in which certain patches
(20:34):
of skin, such as body folds and creases, become thick, dark,
and velvety. Donohue syndrome or Leprechonism affects the endocrine system,
which regulates the secretion of hormones into the blood system.
Abnormalities include excessive secretion of insulin, which regulates blood sugar
levels by promoting the movement of glucose into the body cells.
(20:56):
According to the National Organization for Rare Disorders, with the
disorder cannot use insulin effectively and may have high blood
sugar levels or hyperglycemia after eating, and low blood sugar
levels or hypoglycemia when not eating. Other hormonal effects include
enlargement of the breasts and genitals. Other characteristics include intellectual disability,
(21:18):
abnormally large hands and feet, an enlarged or distended stomach,
enlarged heart, kidneys, and other organs and hernias where the
large intestine may protrude through the abdominal wall or into
the growing. Affected babies are also more susceptible to repeated infections.
The syndrome is extremely rare. Only fifty cases have ever
(21:40):
been reported in medical literature. It was first identified in
nineteen forty eight by doctor W. L. Donahue, a Canadian pathologist,
who wrote about it in the Journal of Pediatrics in
nineteen fifty four. In the reported cases, the disorder occurred
twice as often in females as in males. Treatment is
usually directed toward these specific symptoms. Er Chronologists treat the
(22:04):
hormonal issues, while dermatologists treat the skin problems. For example.
Families may also receive genetic counseling. As for the actual
fairies themselves, leprechauns are obviously not real beings, at least
that's what so called rational people say. But if that's true,
how do you explain the Carlingford Mountain leprechaun found in
(22:27):
Ireland or one of the Crichton leprechaun in Mobile, Alabama.
We touched on the former ferry earlier but here's the
story expanded a bit more back in nineteen eighty nine,
but can only be described as a leprechaun suit was
discovered on Carlingford Mountain in County Louth, alongside some small
bones and a collection of four gold coins. It was
(22:51):
a discovery that divided the wider public. Skeptics saw it
as part of an elaborate hoax concocted by boor jokers
after one too many pint of guinness. To their way
of thinking, this was just another example of Irish creak,
but a handful of believers saw it as something else,
confirmation that some seed of truth existed underneath the centuries
(23:14):
of fairy tales and folklore. Chief among them was Kevin
mccoilta Woods, a man known to many as Ireland's last
leprechaun whisperer. Though still skeptical, Woods was determined to discover
the truth, and that same year led an organized leprechaun
hunt in the region that sparked confusion and amusement alike.
(23:36):
It would ultimately prove a fruitless endeavor, though with no
trace of the ancient Irish being discovered during their travails.
Had the leprecauns gone into hiding, died out? Did they
ever exist in the first place. For a while, everything
went quiet as interest in finding a real life leprechaun
died down, people turned to normal life, and the whole
(23:58):
thing was laughed off. But Woods was undeterred, and in
two thousand and two he came across another discovery that
prompted similar bafflement. Located close to a stone wall on
Gone Road in Carlingford, he came across yet more coins,
gold coins. Had he planted the coins in the hope
of adding to the mythology. It's unclear, though. Things took
(24:21):
a turn for the strange when Woods then revealed that
the coins had apparently given him the ability to communicate
with the karak An elder being who apparently served as
the elder of the two hundred thirty six surviving leprechauns
secretly living in the region. A baffling twist with its
origins and as much fiction as fact. Quite whether the
(24:42):
truth about the existence of leprechauns will ever emerge is unclear,
but every year, on the second Sunday in May, Woods
leads the annual Carlingford National Leprechaun hunt through the Irish village.
Why may remember May thirteenth is lepre Con Day. In
two thousand and nine, the two hundred and thirty six
(25:03):
surviving leprechauns in Ireland were actually afforded protection under the
European Habitats Directive. According to the legend, they live at
the Slate Rock below Foy Mountain, which is part of
the Cooley Mountains in County Louth. As a mark of
appreciation to the people of Carlingford for getting them protected
as a species, the little people leave two thousand cauldrons
(25:25):
around the streets of Carlingford for the hunters to collect.
The whole thing may have been a hoax, But tried
tilling that to this Irish community during hunting season, they
might just tell you otherwise. And if you ask the
community in Mobile, Alabama, they might tell you the same.
Y'all think you're known for Mardi Gras across the world.
(25:46):
Comedian Jermaine Funny Maine Johnson recently told an audience and Mobile,
now the world knows y'all for that leprechaun. There was
two thousand and seven when Brian Johnson, then a reporter
for NBC affiliate WPMI TV fifteen went to investigate a
commotion in Mobile's criton area and came back with an
entry in the viral video Hall of Fame. After some
(26:09):
residents reported seeing a mysterious figure in a tree, others
piled on to add to the creation of a modern myth,
the Crichton leprechon. The block party atmosphere of the event
rapidly faded, as did reports of sightings, but an amateur
sketch featured in the report became a part of Mobile's iconography,
(26:29):
an icon as instantly recognizable as the spire of the
RSA Tower, the silhouette of the USS Alabama, or the
oft painted cannon at the intersection of Government and Houston Streets.
It's been featured on beer labels, t shirts, Marti Gras, floats,
and who knows what else, never mind the fact that
the sketch looks like it was drawn by a three
(26:51):
year old. When an al dot com reporter investigated the
phenomenon and its legacy in twenty nineteen, several interesting points emerged.
Among them, the original sketch was auctioned off for eleven
hundred dollars, with proceeds to benefit the American Red Cross.
If you'd like to see that original Brian Williams video
(27:12):
from two thousand and seven, I'll play a link to
it in the show notes. Thanks for listening. If you
like the show, please share it with someone you know
(27:33):
who loves the paranormal or strange stories, true crime, monsters,
or unsolved mysteries like you do. All stories in Weird
Darkness are purported to be true unless stated otherwise, and
you can find source links or links to the authors
in the show notes. And now that we're coming out
of the dark, I'll leave you with a little light
(27:53):
Psalm thirty four, verse eight. Taste and see that the
Lord is good. Blessed is the man who takes refuge
in him. And a final thought, happiness starts with you.
Not with your relationships, not with your job, not with
your money or finding a pot of gold at the
end of the rainbow, but with you. Happiness starts with you.
(28:18):
I'm Daryn Marler. Thanks for joining me in the Weird Darkness.
Stories and content and weird darkness can be disturbing for
some listeners, and as intended for mature audiences only, parental
discretion is strongly advised. Once upon a time, Clever Tom
found himself walking in the meadow by his home in
(00:21):
rural Ireland when he came across a leprechaun propped up
against a fence post, fast asleep. Tom couldn't believe his eyes.
His grandparents had told him stories about the fairies, but
he assumed they were just fairy tales, not actual fairies.
But this one was in the flesh, an honest to
(00:42):
goodness leprechaun. He knew what that meant. If he could
capture the leprechaun, the fairy creature would be obliged to
lead him to a buried treasure. For a poor farm boy,
this was the chance of a lifetime. Tom seized the
opportunity and the leprechaun. The leprechaun was sleeping, after all,
it wasn't that hard. Startled awake, the leprechaun immediately understood
(01:06):
his mistake. Sighing, he agreed to lead Tom deep into
the forest to the tree under which a treasure was buried.
Tom was overjoyed. This is what he had always waited for.
Tom could finally leave the farm and find adventure in
the big city. But in haste, Tom forgot a shovel
(01:28):
and a wheelbarrow. There was no way he could dig
up the treasure. Even if he did, there was no
way to transport it back to his home. Tom racked
his brain. There had to be an answer, and then
he had it. From his pocket, Tom extracted a bright
red ribbon, tying it around the base of the tree.
He knew it would guide him back to this exact spot.
(01:51):
Before he released the leprechaun. However, Clever Tom showed why
he earned his nickname Clever. He extracted a promise from
the fairy, who, being a fairy, could not tell a lie,
that the leprechaun would not remove the ribbon from the tree.
Satisfied with the positive response, Tom released the leprechaun and
raced home to gather his supplies. When Tom returned, his
(02:14):
heart sank. No. The leprechaun had not removed the ribbon
he promised he wouldn't, but he did tie an identical
ribbon on every other tree for miles in every direction.
Clever Tom wasn't the clever one after all, I'm Darren
(02:35):
Marler and this is Weird Darkness. Welcome, weirdos. I'm Darren
Marler and this is Weird Darkness. Here you'll find stories
(02:59):
of the paranormal, supernatural, legends, lore, crime, conspiracy, mysterious, macabre,
unsolved and unexplained. Coming up in this episode, it's Saint
Patrick's day time to celebrate all things Irish, including the holidays.
Un official mascot the leprekn But how much do you
(03:21):
really know about the little guy? We'll cover some of
what you probably already know and also what you likely
don't yet know about these little fairies known as leprechauns.
Now volt your doors, lock your windows, turn off your lights,
and come with me into the weird Darkness. That's right,
(03:58):
I said fairies. Although they might not match your initial
idea of what a fairy is, leprechauns are considered a
part of the family. Like other fairies, they're small in
size and prone to mischief. Midiature men are said to
be descendants of Tuatha de Denan, a group of magical
beings that served under the Gaelic goddess Danu. According to legend,
(04:21):
this mythical group lived in Ireland long before humans inhabited
the land. The word leprechaan actually means small body. It's
believed to be a variation of the Middle Irish word
leucrapon lou means small and corp means body, so lukorpan
small body. Some sources say Leprechaans are derivatives of the
(04:44):
Irish deity Luke, god of the sun and of arts
and crafts. After the rise of Christianity, Luke's importance was
diminished and he was demoted to a shoemaking folklore character,
that is, a cobbler known as Lug Cromaine. You ever
notice that all the stories and images you've seen of
leprechauns that they always seem to be male. That's because
(05:07):
the leprechaun species has no females. As a way of
explaining why there is no record of female leprechauns and
therefore no way to procreate in the traditional sense, some
sources claim leprechauns are the unwonted children of the fairy community.
As a result, leprechauns are described as grouchy, untrusting, and
(05:27):
solitary creatures. Then again, i'd be grouchy and solitary too,
if I couldn't date. Although the little irishmen are now
synonymous with the color green, they weren't always. Early accounts
of leprechauns described them as wearing red and sporting a
variety of hats, often three cornered hats, although without any
girls to pursue, I'm not really sure why they bother
(05:49):
spiffing up. Also sporting red is the rambunctious Chloricon, a
mythical creature that shares many characteristics with the leprechaun. These
beings are always described as drunk and surly. They're often
seen in stories writing animals at night or clearing out
entire wine cellars. Some accounts explain these troublemakers as the
(06:10):
night form of leprechauns. After a hard day's work, the
bearded fairies get so tipsy they become an entirely different species.
Other stories describe them as a close relative to the leprechaun.
Either way, they sound like men who make lousy drunks.
Leprechauns are known for their money, the pot of gold
(06:31):
being the most obvious, and there's apparently a lot of
money in the cobbling business. As well, since they spend
most of their time alone. Seeing as there are no
leprechaun babes, the tiny green men pour all of their
energy into crafting shoes. In the magical world, most spirits, fairies,
and other creatures have a distinctive sound that is associated
(06:52):
with them. Some entities, such as the Irish fairy Banshee
and the Hispanic spirit La ll Na, are said to
emit a more wornful whale, signifying their presence. In the
case of the Leprechaun, it's the tap tap tapping of
his tiny cobbler hammer driving nails into shoes that announces
they are near. In his collection of Irish fairy and
(07:14):
folk tales, W. B. Yates offered an eighteenth century poem
by William Allingham titled the Leprechaun or Fairy Shoemaker, which
describes the sound. Thus, lay your ear close to the hill,
do you not catch the tiny clamor busy click of
an elfin hammer, voice of the leprechauns singing shrill as
(07:35):
he merrily plies his trade. While some stories attribute the
leprechaun's wealth to the fine shoes they make, others say
they protect the treasure of the entire fairy world. One
tale says leprechauns act like bankers to make sure the
frivolous fairies don't spend all their gems at once. Wherever
(07:57):
there are leprechauns, there are stories of people trying to
steal their gold. The rule is, if you're lucky enough
to catch a leprechaun, you can never take your eyes
off of a moor hi'll disappear. According to Irish legends,
people lucky enough to find a leprechaun and capture him,
or in some stories, steal his magic ring, coin or amulet,
(08:18):
can barter his freedom for his treasure. Leprechauns are usually
said to be able to grant the person three wishes,
much like the magical genie in the lamp, but dealing
with leprechauns can be a tricky proposition. The leprechaun plays
several roles in Irish folklore. He is principally a roguish,
trickster figure who cannot be trusted and will deceive whenever possible.
(08:43):
In her Encyclopedia, Spirits, fairies, leprechauns, and goblins folklores to
Carol Rose offers a typical tale of leprechaun trickery which
I shared at the beginning of this episode, concerning a
boy who managed to get a leprechaun to show in
the bush in the field where his treasure was located.
Having no spade or shovel, the boy marked the tree
with one of his red garters, then kindly released the
(09:05):
sprite and went for a spade. Returning almost instantly, he
found that every one of the numerous trees in the
field sported a red garter. Obviously, the boy should never
have allowed the leprechaun to go free, at least not
until the treasure was found and dug up. The boy
was extremely fortunate to find the fairy asleep, as leprechauns
are practically impossible to catch, but making a leprechaun trap
(09:29):
is possible and a great activity to share with your
children on Saint Patrick's Day. All you need to get
started is something shiny to lure the little men in.
The traps can be as simple as a shoe box,
or elaborate as your family can imagine. Although no one
has caught anything yet, at least not that I know of,
it doesn't hurt to try. Constantly being chased for one's
(09:52):
gold or breakfast cereal can take a toll on any
fairy's demeanor. As a result, leprechauns are distrustful and see
this attitude doesn't mean they won't loosen the purse strings
if touched by a bit of kindness, though, One legend
mentions a down on his nobleman who offered a leprechaun
a ride on his horse. In return, the man returned
(10:13):
to his crumbling castle to find it filled to the
ceiling with gold. Something you might want to keep in
mind if you see a less than one foot tall
humanoid wearing green and sporting a beard, hoping to thumb
a ride on the side of the highway. So where
can you find leprechauns? Ireland may be the first answer
(10:33):
that comes to mind when asked where in the world
you might be most likely to spot a leprechaun, But Portland,
Oregon is home to its very own population, a tiny
pot of gold, love and irishman too. They've even got
a dedicated area, mill EN's Park to prove it. Here's
a bit more about the only leprechaun colony west of Ireland.
(10:55):
Upon his return home from World War II in nineteen
forty six, Dick Fagan went back to work as a
journalist at the Oregon Journal, where his second floor office
overlooked what is now known as Nito Parkway. Amidst all
the traffic and activity that took place outside his window,
began became fascinated with one element of his view. A
(11:15):
tiny hole had been placed in the median for a
light pole. Fagan watched as weeds began to fill in
the spot where the light pole was meant to be installed,
but he wasn't happy with that either, so he planted
some flowers too. Making that tiny hole in the ground
pretty was only the beginning of the attention Fagan began
lavishing upon the space. In his Oregon Journal column, mill Ends,
(11:40):
which like the irregular pieces of leftover lumber it was
named for, shared interesting little stories. He often referenced the
leprechauns who lived in the park. Facan conveniently was the
only person who could see Patrick O'Toole, the leader of
the e leprechaun community. He also apparently spoke to him.
When the mayor of Portland proposed an eleven pm curfew
(12:02):
on all city parks, Fagan published a response from O'Toole,
who threatened a leprechaun curse upon the mayor. The leprechauns
were subsequently allowed to stay due to Fagan's Irish heritage
and the leprechauns who purportedly inhabited the park. Milan's Park
became dedicated as such quite appropriately on March seventeenth, Saint
(12:24):
Patrick's Day nineteen forty eight, twenty eight years after its dedication.
Milan's Park became an official city park in nineteen seventy six,
again on Saint Patrick's Day. Each year, various holiday themed
events take place on this site. This tiny, little two
square foot site, yeah, Milllands Park measures just two square feet,
(12:47):
which seems inadequate size for what Fagan was fond of
describing as the only leprechaun colony west of Ireland. Keenness
World Records has recognized it as the smallest park in
the world since nineteen seventy one. The park has become
something of a must see oddity in Portland, and many
residents and visitors have made their own contributions to its growth.
(13:08):
A tiny swimming pool with a butterfly diving board, statues
and a pint sized ferris wheel which was delivered by
a normal sized crane. Are just a few of its amenities.
In order to accommodate construction on the parkway in two
thousand and six, the park had to be moved temporarily.
It moved back in on March sixteenth, two thousand and seven,
(13:30):
the day before Saint Patrick's Day, with bagpipers playing and
Fagan's wife looking on. Fagan sadly passed away in nineteen
sixty nine. In December twenty eleven, the Occupied Portland movement
installed a flash mob of plastic army men and tiny
signs at the park to illustrate their mission. One of
the demonstrators, Cameron Scott Witten, was arrested when he refused
(13:53):
to leave a week before Saint Patrick's Day. In twenty thirteen,
someone stole the park's one only tree, only to return
it one week later. I can only assume stealing from
leprechauns brings you the opposite of good luck. Just because
you don't personally see the leprechauns at Milands Park or
(14:14):
anywhere else for that matter, it doesn't mean the Leprechauns
aren't real. One man claims to have found evidence that
they truly do exist. In nineteen eighty nine, a local
businessman in Carlingford, Ireland, claimed to have found evidence of
a real leprechaun on a mountain called sleeve By. He
said that after hearing a scream near the wishing well,
(14:35):
he found bones, a tiny suit and gold coins near
scorched earth. The evidence is now displayed behind a glass
case for visitors to come and see. As a result,
a new tradition was born. During an annual leprechaun hunt,
one hundred ceramic leprechauns are hidden on the mountain. Tourists
(14:56):
come every year to try and hunt down the little
green statues. Hunters have to buy a six euro hunter's
license beforehand. In twenty nineteen, the thirtieth anniversary of the
leprechaun bones discovery and the tenth anniversary of their official
European Union recognition, fortune seekers abandoned their mountain search and
(15:16):
instead scoured the town for hidden leprechaun pots, one of
which contained a real bar of gold valued at twelve
hundred europe. If by chance you do stumble upon a leprechaun,
not only do you have to remember never to take
your eyes off of him, you'll also need to keep
in mind that it's illegal to harm him, especially if
(15:37):
you live in sleeve Foy. Apparently there are two hundred
and thirty six leprechauns that still live in the caverns there.
In two thousand and nine, the EU granted heritage status
to the remaining we people. They now have their own
protected sanctuary nestled in the mountain. The directive also protects
the animals and flora in the area to help keep
(15:58):
the biodiversity of the landa But we all know it's
not really about the animals and flora, it's the lepregns.
One aspect of the leprechaun most are not aware of
is that they can live underwater, which might be another
reason why these little fairies are so hard to find.
The earliest known folk tale to feature leprechaun comes from
the Middle Ages. In it, Fergus Macletti, the King of Ulster,
(16:22):
falls asleep by the beach. He awakens to find three
lucrepon attempting to drag him into their under sea layer.
The king captures them, but releases them after he has
promised three wishes. The story suggests the mythical men are
sea dwellers, but modern takes on the myth do not
often include this lifestyle detail. Personally, I say we embrace
(16:44):
this and insist they get a cameo in the next
Aquaman movie. You may not be a leprechaun yourself, although
I don't really know. I have a lot of people
listening to the podcast you might be. But anyway, if
you are not, and you have the desire to be one,
you can dress up as one and do so for charity.
Every March there are marathons all over the country that
(17:06):
encourage the participants to dress like leprechauns. The festive runners
help raise money for charity while getting in the Saint
Patrick's Day spirit. Hopefully the ron is before all the
merriment that requires beer. And if you are a leprechaun
listening to the podcast, drop me a note. I'd love
to hear from you, and I promise I'm not interested
in your goal. As with many old legends and traditions,
(17:27):
the image and nature of the leprechaun has changed over
time and has been updated and in some cases sanitized
for a modern audience. Lucky, the Leprechaun mascot of General
Mills Breakfast Cereal, Lucky Charms is probably the best known
fairy of this type. The nineteen fifty nine Disney movie
Darby O'Gill and the Little People also influenced how many
(17:49):
people think of the we folk. On the other end
of the spectrum, there is the homicidal Leprechaun in the
Leprechaun horror comedy film series, played by Willow actor Warwick Days.
For generations, some Irish have been annoyed by leprechauns and
the ethnic stereotypes they perpetuate, and for most Americans, leprechauns
(18:09):
only appear around Saint Patrick's Day. But if you somehow
miss the celebrations on March seventeenth, or just need another
excuse to celebrate the we folk, you can observe Leprecaun Day,
which is on May thirteenth, giving you one more opportunity
during the year to get blind, drunk, and blame it
on a holiday. Leprechauns offer a morality tale figure whose
(18:31):
fables worn against the folly of trying to get rich,
quick take what's not rightfully yours, or interfere with the
good folk and other magical preachers. Belief in leprechauns and
other fairies was once widespread on the Emerald dial and
real or not, they will continue to amuse and delight
us for centuries more. While leprechauns are mythical beings, a
(19:06):
rare disease sometimes called leprechanism is very real. Lepreconism, also
known as Donahue syndrome, is an extremely rare disorder characterized
by abnormal resistance to insulin. Some researchers prefer to say
Donahue syndrome because lepreconism may be viewed as pejorative by families.
(19:27):
According to the online Mendallian Inheritance in Man, an online
catalog of human genes and genetic disorders, lepreconism or Donahue
syndrome is a recessive genetic disorder which occurs when an
individual inherits two copies of an abnormal gene for the
same trait. Babies with the disorder are usually small before
(19:47):
and after birth. According to the National Institutes of Health.
They experience failure to thrive, which means they have low
birth weight and do not gain weight at the expected rate.
They often lack mon muscle mass and may also have
very low body fat under the skin. Characteristics of the
syndrome also include abnormally large, low set, and poorly developed ears,
(20:11):
a wide, flat nose with upturned nostrils, large thick lips
and a large mouth, and widely spaced, bulging eyes. Affected
babies may also have an abnormally small head or microcephaly.
There may be excessive hair growth. Most affected individuals have
a skin condition called asynthosis migracons, in which certain patches
(20:34):
of skin, such as body folds and creases, become thick, dark,
and velvety. Donohue syndrome or Leprechonism affects the endocrine system,
which regulates the secretion of hormones into the blood system.
Abnormalities include excessive secretion of insulin, which regulates blood sugar
levels by promoting the movement of glucose into the body cells.
(20:56):
According to the National Organization for Rare Disorders, with the
disorder cannot use insulin effectively and may have high blood
sugar levels or hyperglycemia after eating, and low blood sugar
levels or hypoglycemia when not eating. Other hormonal effects include
enlargement of the breasts and genitals. Other characteristics include intellectual disability,
(21:18):
abnormally large hands and feet, an enlarged or distended stomach,
enlarged heart, kidneys, and other organs and hernias where the
large intestine may protrude through the abdominal wall or into
the growing. Affected babies are also more susceptible to repeated infections.
The syndrome is extremely rare. Only fifty cases have ever
(21:40):
been reported in medical literature. It was first identified in
nineteen forty eight by doctor W. L. Donahue, a Canadian pathologist,
who wrote about it in the Journal of Pediatrics in
nineteen fifty four. In the reported cases, the disorder occurred
twice as often in females as in males. Treatment is
usually directed toward these specific symptoms. Er Chronologists treat the
(22:04):
hormonal issues, while dermatologists treat the skin problems. For example.
Families may also receive genetic counseling. As for the actual
fairies themselves, leprechauns are obviously not real beings, at least
that's what so called rational people say. But if that's true,
how do you explain the Carlingford Mountain leprechaun found in
(22:27):
Ireland or one of the Crichton leprechaun in Mobile, Alabama.
We touched on the former ferry earlier but here's the
story expanded a bit more back in nineteen eighty nine,
but can only be described as a leprechaun suit was
discovered on Carlingford Mountain in County Louth, alongside some small
bones and a collection of four gold coins. It was
(22:51):
a discovery that divided the wider public. Skeptics saw it
as part of an elaborate hoax concocted by boor jokers
after one too many pint of guinness. To their way
of thinking, this was just another example of Irish creak,
but a handful of believers saw it as something else,
confirmation that some seed of truth existed underneath the centuries
(23:14):
of fairy tales and folklore. Chief among them was Kevin
mccoilta Woods, a man known to many as Ireland's last
leprechaun whisperer. Though still skeptical, Woods was determined to discover
the truth, and that same year led an organized leprechaun
hunt in the region that sparked confusion and amusement alike.
(23:36):
It would ultimately prove a fruitless endeavor, though with no
trace of the ancient Irish being discovered during their travails.
Had the leprecauns gone into hiding, died out? Did they
ever exist in the first place. For a while, everything
went quiet as interest in finding a real life leprechaun
died down, people turned to normal life, and the whole
(23:58):
thing was laughed off. But Woods was undeterred, and in
two thousand and two he came across another discovery that
prompted similar bafflement. Located close to a stone wall on
Gone Road in Carlingford, he came across yet more coins,
gold coins. Had he planted the coins in the hope
of adding to the mythology. It's unclear, though. Things took
(24:21):
a turn for the strange when Woods then revealed that
the coins had apparently given him the ability to communicate
with the karak An elder being who apparently served as
the elder of the two hundred thirty six surviving leprechauns
secretly living in the region. A baffling twist with its
origins and as much fiction as fact. Quite whether the
(24:42):
truth about the existence of leprechauns will ever emerge is unclear,
but every year, on the second Sunday in May, Woods
leads the annual Carlingford National Leprechaun hunt through the Irish village.
Why may remember May thirteenth is lepre Con Day. In
two thousand and nine, the two hundred and thirty six
(25:03):
surviving leprechauns in Ireland were actually afforded protection under the
European Habitats Directive. According to the legend, they live at
the Slate Rock below Foy Mountain, which is part of
the Cooley Mountains in County Louth. As a mark of
appreciation to the people of Carlingford for getting them protected
as a species, the little people leave two thousand cauldrons
(25:25):
around the streets of Carlingford for the hunters to collect.
The whole thing may have been a hoax, But tried
tilling that to this Irish community during hunting season, they
might just tell you otherwise. And if you ask the
community in Mobile, Alabama, they might tell you the same.
Y'all think you're known for Mardi Gras across the world.
(25:46):
Comedian Jermaine Funny Maine Johnson recently told an audience and Mobile,
now the world knows y'all for that leprechaun. There was
two thousand and seven when Brian Johnson, then a reporter
for NBC affiliate WPMI TV fifteen went to investigate a
commotion in Mobile's criton area and came back with an
entry in the viral video Hall of Fame. After some
(26:09):
residents reported seeing a mysterious figure in a tree, others
piled on to add to the creation of a modern myth,
the Crichton leprechon. The block party atmosphere of the event
rapidly faded, as did reports of sightings, but an amateur
sketch featured in the report became a part of Mobile's iconography,
(26:29):
an icon as instantly recognizable as the spire of the
RSA Tower, the silhouette of the USS Alabama, or the
oft painted cannon at the intersection of Government and Houston Streets.
It's been featured on beer labels, t shirts, Marti Gras, floats,
and who knows what else, never mind the fact that
the sketch looks like it was drawn by a three
(26:51):
year old. When an al dot com reporter investigated the
phenomenon and its legacy in twenty nineteen, several interesting points emerged.
Among them, the original sketch was auctioned off for eleven
hundred dollars, with proceeds to benefit the American Red Cross.
If you'd like to see that original Brian Williams video
(27:12):
from two thousand and seven, I'll play a link to
it in the show notes. Thanks for listening. If you
like the show, please share it with someone you know
(27:33):
who loves the paranormal or strange stories, true crime, monsters,
or unsolved mysteries like you do. All stories in Weird
Darkness are purported to be true unless stated otherwise, and
you can find source links or links to the authors
in the show notes. And now that we're coming out
of the dark, I'll leave you with a little light
(27:53):
Psalm thirty four, verse eight. Taste and see that the
Lord is good. Blessed is the man who takes refuge
in him. And a final thought, happiness starts with you.
Not with your relationships, not with your job, not with
your money or finding a pot of gold at the
end of the rainbow, but with you. Happiness starts with you.
(28:18):
I'm Daryn Marler. Thanks for joining me in the Weird Darkness.
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