The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

IRISH LEPRECHAUN BELIEF

THIS ACTUALLY HAPPENED TO MY GRANDPA WHEN HE WAS A YOUNG MAN IN
IRELAND BEFORE HE CAME TO AMERICA. HE WAS RETURNING FROM THE FIELD
TO HIS BOAT. THERE WAS A LEPRECHAUN ON HIS BOAT TRYING TO MAKE OFF
WITH IT. HE PULLED ON THE ROPE TO THE BOAT BUT THE LEPRECHAUN PULLE
ON THE OTHER END. MY GRANDPA FELL INTO THE WATER. HE HAD TO WALK
ALL THE WAY AROUND THE BAY BACK TO TOWN.

Submitter comment: THIS IS A STORY TOLD TO ME BY MY GRANDFATHER IN PHILADELPHIA WHEN I
WAS A KID. THE POPULAR FAMILY EXPLANATION IS THIS STORY WAS MADE UP
TO COVER THE LOSS OF A BOAT WHEN MY GRANDFATHER WAS DRUNK, BUT I
BELIEVE IT IS THE TRUTH.
MY GRANDFATHER DIED IN 1975 ONE DAY SHORT OF HIS 100TH BIRTHDAY. MY
GRANDPA TOLD ME THIS STORY WHEN I WAS ABOUT TEN YEARS OLD. HIS
SPEECH WASN'T VERY GOOD BUT I REMEMBER THE STORY CLEARLY. WHEN HE
TOLD ME HIS STORY IT SEEMED IMPORTANT TO HIM THAT I BELIEVED IT. NO
ONE ELSE DID AND THEY TOLD ME SO AFTER THE STORY WAS FINISHED. HE
JUST LAUGHED.

Where learned: IRELAND ; COUNTY DONEGAL

Date learned: 00-00-1967

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