Les Bill Gates

Luchorpans

Luchorpans, a variation on the Leprechauns of Irish Mythology

Just as the Hobbits are central characters in JRR Tolkien’s ‘The Lord of the Rings’, so are the Luchorpans central characters in my fantasy trilogy ‘Windows on Our World’.

So, what is a Luchorpan?

Luchorpan is just another word for Leprechaun.

However, the origins of the word Leprechaun are in dispute. Some scholars of Irish mythology believe the word is derived from the Gaelic ‘Luacharma'n’, which means ‘little body’ or ‘pygmy’. Others believe the word derives from ‘Leath bhrogan’ which means ‘maker of one shoe’ – Leprechauns always make one shoe at a time, never a pair.

Either explanation may be feasible, since Leprechauns are said to be only two to three feet tall and have the reputation of being cobblers.

I am in favour of the first explanation since other derivatives of Leprechaun are Luchorpan, Lubrican, Lubberkin and Lurikeen.

There may also be some connection with Lugh (whose name means ‘shining one’), the sun god of the ancient Celts, patron of arts and crafts and leader of the Tuatha dé Danaan (‘People of the goddess Danu’), a god of war, mastery, magic and good harvest and said by legend to be a master of many skills.

Whatever the origins, there is no doubting the importance of Leprechauns in Irish folklore.

Described variously as ‘fairies’, ‘sprites’ or ‘little elves’, Leprechauns are said to resemble little old men. However they are not dwarves since their various dimensions bear the same proportions to each other as those of humans. They are mischievous people who love to drink beer or poteen, smoke pipes, dance, and play music.

Leprechauns are hard-working people. Many of them are cobblers and renowned for the quality of the shoes they make. They are called ‘fairy cobblers’, for they make shoes for elves. Usually solitary, anti-social people, when not working, they often hide alone behind bushes or under trees smoking their pipes.

Leprechauns traditionally dress in garish old-fashioned clothes – trousers with braces, a checked shirt, an apron, a cocked hat and buckled shoes. Green is their favourite colour.

Their other main trade is banking, and Leprechauns have a reputation for thriftiness. One legend says that Leprechauns are self-appointed guardians of an ancient treasure of gold left in Ireland by the marauding Danes in the ninth century and that they hide their gold in buried pots. This is one reason why they avoid humans whom they regard as greedy creatures.

Leprechauns carry two leather pouches. One contains a magic silver coin that always returns to the pouch once it is paid out. The other contains a gold coin used to bribe his way out of trouble. This coin, it is alleged, will turn into a rock or a leaf once it is given away.

If you capture a Leprechaun, he should grant you three wishes. However, you shouldn't let him out of your grasp or your sight for a second. He'll try to distract you or use any trick he can think of to get away. If your eyes leave the Leprechaun for even one second he will vanish in the blink of an eye.

The Luchorpans of ‘Windows on Our World’ are based on Leprechauns, but there are some differences. For one thing, there are female Luchorpans such as Vylin Shoemaker, one of the main characters, and Kaitlyn Fortkeeper, commander of the Guards of Luchor. There isn't, however, any mention of female Leprechauns in traditional Irish legend.

The Luchorpans of ‘Windows on Our World’ live in a mythical country called Luchor (to the west of the Air Mountains), with a small enclave also living in the town of Rivermeet in West Thorland (to the east of the Air Mountains).

The other main Luchorpan characters are Perkin Goldmaster, Alvin Shoemaker, Sawkin Goldmaster and High Lord Trevin. Perkin is a banker who possesses the Seeround Glass – a magic glass that can see around corners. He and Vylin are engaged. Alvin, Vylin’s sister, features throughout Book 1, ‘Hope’, but is replaced early in the second book ‘Faith’ by Sawkin, a distant relative of Perkin.

If you read my trilogy ‘Windows on Our World’, you will not learn a lot about Leprechauns and their place in Irish mythology, but you will learn a lot about Luchorpans as you get drawn in by the fascinating characters I have created. If you would like to purchase ‘Windows on Our World, Part 1: Hope’, or learn more, visit my website at http://www.lesbillgates.com/hope.html

May 11, 2008 3:13 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | Add Comment