Irish Folk Music and the Leprechaun

Posted byDailyWriterPosted inUncategorized
An illustration of a clurichaun, cousin of the leprechauns. (1862) T.C. Croker ( Wikimedia Commons )
A wax sculpture from the Dublin National Museum of the Leprechaun found on Mary Ann Bernal blog.
A traditional Irish harp. They are made in different sizes from hand held to very large. Image from Anna Flynn on Pinterest.

Irish Music and Myth

Text adapted from YourIrish.com, Ancient-Origens.net, and LiveScience.com. Embedded links.

  • Students often enjoy learning about the Irish mythology behind the leprechaun, a shoemaker who lives in the deep of the forest and since he is very small and very intelligent, he seeks to avoid being caught by others, preferring to live peacefully, dancing and playing Irish music, and counting his gold. However, if you catch a leprechaun, he can grant you three wishes in order to be released. Be careful what you wish for as a wrong wish can lead to a life of misery.
  • Leprechauns offer a morality tale figure whose fables warn against the folly of trying to get rich quick, take what’s not rightfully yours or interfere with “The Good Folk” and other magical creatures. Belief in leprechauns and other fairies was once widespread on the Emerald Isle, and real or not they will continue to amuse and delight us for centuries more.
  • If you’re not ready to give up on the leprechaun, note that one third of the Irish people do believe in the leprechaun.

Traditional Irish Musical Instruments

  1. With traditional instruments such as the Harp or the bodhrán being played the unique music is created. Traditional Irish music is played by a variety of instruments such as the Bodhran (Irish drum), the Fiddle, the Flute, the Tin Whistle, Uilleann Pipes, and the Irish Harp.
  2. Here is an animated youtube of An Gréasaí Bróg, a lovely children’s song, popular in traditional Irish music.
  3. Here is a youtube of a musician playing a traditional Celtic harp. The piece is a modern composition called “A Trip to the Islands” written for Celtic harp and played by the composer Nadia Birkenstock.
Many evening prayers incorporate this good advice!