Perhaps most internationally famous in relation to Irish legend is the leprechaun. They are said to be the first inhabitants of Ireland and have long ago been banished to live underground. They are highly intelligent creatures who work to evade humans, but whose profession is said to be shoemaking. Fairy folk supposedly need an endless supply of shoes because of their deep love of dancing, and consequently, Irish music. Fairies are said to take the form of humans, showcasing great beauty and power, but love to bring great misfortune and bad luck. Irish legends are often told in the form of song and stories are thus passed down through musical traditions. Most Irish people say that they do not believe in fairies and banshees, but are very unwilling to find themselves in areas said to be inhabited by fairies at night or on days similar to our Halloween.
Many of the English-speaking world's most famous writers were Irish, which can be explained by understanding Ireland to be a culture rich in storytelling. Rhyming and repetition were generally methods that storytellers used in order to remember the whole story to recite. In modern times, storytelling is less a communal activity but is more ingrained into the culture. Parents will tell stories and read books about legends as bedtime stories.
