The Story of the Leprechaun

Saint Patrick's Day always reminds me of my dad. My Grandpa Gavin's family came over to the U.S. during the Potato Famine. So, I grew up with stories about Ireland, passed along through the generations. One story was the legend of the leprechauns...

One day, in heaven, a great war was raging. Michael, the great archangel, was gathering his forces to fight those who wanted to take over heaven. The littlest angels were scared. Though usually full of mischief, they did not know what to do. Surely they were too small to help in this battle against good and evil. These small angels decided to hide.

After the battle, when Lucifer and his army had been thrown out of heaven, God called the littlest angels to him. God was very disappointed that his littlest angels hid when they were needed the most. God told these angels that they did not deserve to live in heaven anymore; but they did not deserve to go with Lucifer either. After some thought, God decided to send these angels to Earth. And so they went.

During their "fall from Heaven", these small angels saw the most magnificent Isle. It glittered and shone like a giant emerald in the sea. The angels decided that they would live in this great Emerald Isle.

The Emerald Isle was Ireland. And the littlest angels became known as leprechauns.

Okay, I think my dad told the story much better, but that is how I remember it!