Jimmy's Leprechaun Trap

Dan Kissane's take on the leprechaun has little to do with the jolly little man in green, whose iconic status has been enhanced by the dolls on sale in our tourist shops.

The leprechaun in Kissane's book brings us back to the original concept of the leprechaun as a source of trouble and mischief, showing no mercy as he disrupts the lives of the farming community. Named as 'The Little Bohannon', our villain from Tír na nÓg is first spotted by young Jimmy as he tends to the lambing sheep on his parents' farm.

When he tells his parents and his grandfather of the sighting no one believes him. That soon changes when his father sets out to remove the clochán or pile of stones, associated with the little people, and ends up with a runaway tractor. From then on Jimmy and his grandfather must set out to devise a way of trapping the mischief maker; a task that proves far from easy.

The details of life on an Irish farm in the not-so-distant pass is a delight as is the resolution of the main drama, which is both intriguing and funny. There is also some grimace making incidents such as the rotten boiled egg that children will love. The excellent illustrations by Angela Clark contribute greatly to the charm of the book.

 Jimmy's Leprechaun Trap by Dan Kissane illustrated by Angela Clark from O'Brien Press @ €5.95. Ages 7 to 10.

Tony Hickey