National Leprechaun Museum

Who would have ever thought there is actually a whole museum dedicated to leprechauns? It's actually located right here in Dublin and it claims to be the first leprechaun museum in the world. Ha! This month we went to go check it out. I thought March would be the perfect time to learn more about leprechauns. 

 A nice big sign pointing us in the right direction 

Entrance to the National Leprechaun Museum 

They run a tour every 15 minutes so we did not have to wait too long for a tour. First of all you are taken into a room with a few bits of memorabilia about leprechauns. There were figures, books, clothes, and all sorts of things. 

This is a map of the tour

Then you walk down a tunnel, which is cool because although its a short tunnel you look tiny if you stand at the end of it. This is the start of our "leprechaun experience."

We go into several different rooms during the tour. The basics of leprechaun folklore is explained, and what it is that defines a leprechaun. A leprechaun is a type of fairy in Irish folklore and mythology, usually taking the form of an old man dressed in a red or green coat, and enjoys partaking in mischief. They spend all their time making shoes, and they store all their gold coins in a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. The earliest known reference to the leprechaun appears in the medieval tale known as the Echtra Fergus mac Léti (Adventure of Fergus son of Léti). There is a sentence in it where the King of Ulster falls asleep on the beach and wakes up to find himself being dragged into the sea by three lúchorpáin (leprechauns). The King then captures the leprechauns and they grant him three wishes in exchange for release. 

Pot of Gold

Then we walk under the "Giant's Causeway" and end up in the Giant's Room. This room consists of a giant table, chairs, lamp, fireplace, and dresser. I had to hoist the children up on the chairs just to get a picture. 

Walking under the Giants Causeway. It really did feel like
we were walking under the sea. 

Then you walk through a room with umbrellas on the ceiling and then there is a RAINBOW! We followed the tour guide into the fairy hill and watched a light show. We learned about the Salmon of Knowledge and Children of Lir. You can look them up if you want...too long to write! 

The guide told us that after Walt Disney visited Ireland it led to his 1959 film Darby O'Gill and the Little People. He said this is a very accurate film about leprechauns. I will have to get that movie so my children can see it. I have not seen it in many years! 

My three Lil' Leprechauns!!

No, we did not get to see any leprechauns. Which was very disappointing for little L. There was not even a sight of one. No models of leprechauns...nothing. I thought it was a very expensive tour and definitely not worth the money but it was something for us to do on a rainy day!

Do you believe in Leprechauns?