Entertainment
12 March, 2021
Wayne's World: Cairns' very own leprechaun
Wayne's World March 12, 2021
Top of the day to you Tropicairnsians,
Ah to be sure, to be sure, to be sure, the most celebrated National Irish day in the world is again happening this Wednesday 17th of March at your local Irish bar were you can green it up and carry on like a bloody twit (well that’s what I do).
2020 killed the worlds celebration of everything, but begorrah, if it’s going to stuff up this year’s fun of Guinness drinking, potato mashing, corn beef stew eating and drunken dancing debauchery. Not as long as I have a red beard it won’t, as to places to celebrate the best day in the universe, well if you can’t find one, you are not looking too bloody hard, and my favourite is McGinty’s Irish Bar 2 doors up from the new Hogs Breath Restaurant in Shield St. Now Paddy (yes, a real Irishman named Paddy does own this bar) claims you will find the best craic` and the finest mob you are ever going to meet but watch out for his goat. Already there is no place like McGinty’s, well at least not North of Malin Head, East of Wicklow, South of Mizen Or West of the Dingle Peninsula.
Saint Patrick was the foremost patron Saint of Ireland, and truth be told (yeah nah maybe) he liked a drop of Guinness or three. Speaking of three, lots of people confuse the three-leaf shamrock with the so-called lucky four-leafed clover. These plants are not quite the same thing. The Saint Patrick’s Day custom of “drowning the shamrock” or “wetting the shamrock” was historically popular, especially in Ireland. At the end of the celebrations, a shamrock is put into the bottom of a cup, which is then filled with whiskey, beer, or cider. It is then drunk as a toast to Saint Patrick, Ireland, or those present. This Saint is said to have used the shamrock and its distinctive three leaves to teach the people all about the Holy Trinity: The Father, The Son, and The Holy Spirit.
The meaning of symbols can often change throughout history and sometimes rather dramatically too. In the early 1900s, the shamrock became a symbol of rebellion of the Irish people against the English. As a symbol of rebellion, openly displaying this three-leaf clover was made illegal and punishable by death.
And now we come to the legend of Irish Leprechaun’s, these red bearded men and other little fairies form a large part of Irish history and folklore. They are also a huge topic of interest and fascination for people in Australia, America, and all over the world. Though leprechauns look rather funny, they have a reputation for being grumpy and grouchy.
Each leprechaun has his very own pot of gold. He guards his pot of gold very carefully because he loves gold more than anything.
Many people assume that these creatures only live in Ireland. However, leprechauns have the most amazing magic, which means that they can be found in many places around the world. Popular symbols such as four-leaf clovers, shamrocks, rainbows, and pots of gold have long been associated with this Irish fairy creature.
It is said that wherever Irish people exist, there are leprechauns to be found as well including magical gardens where treasures are hidden underneath unusually large 4-leaf clovers.
So, come Wednesday, get ya greens on, down some pints of Guinness and go clover hunting.
Wayne.
