Tradition has it that leprechauns are mischievous little people, oftencobblers, with pots of gold hidden away. Humans are always keen to findthe gold, of course, but are outwitted by the leprechauns' cunning andmagical powers.In all of the six tales, humans are taught a lesson by the littlepeople, whether as a result of overwhelming greed for the gold, pickingflowers where flowers are not supposed to be picked, or merely notbelieving in leprechauns. They have even been known to help humans ingreat need--when sufficiently pleased by a kind act.There is something for everyone to enjoy in these stories, especiallythe battle of wits between "them" and us. These tales have beenpassed down from one generation to another, and have been a part of Irishfolklore for hundreds of years.
