It’s hard to imagine anything more touristy and stereotypical than visiting a leprechaun museum in Dublin. I expected a gift shop (and was right) but what I hadn’t expected was a fun hour-long storytelling adventure that led us through the folklore and magical mythology that is embedded in Ireland’s history.

We were lucky enough to have Naoise (“Nisha”) O’Duinn, the head storyteller at the museum, as our guide. The tour is broken up into multiple themed rooms — an old Irish cottage, an underworld fairy portal, and a dark forest. After a brief rundown regarding the history of leprechauns, Nisha leveled with us; the museum is really a collection of Irish folktales, but “National Leprechaun Museum” is easier to market.

After learning that leprechauns are cobblers (shoemakers) and were known for wearing red hats, we were informed that the modern look of leprechauns (green suit, green hat) is largely due to the Disney film Darby O’Gill and the Little People and, even more so, Lucky the Leprechaun from Lucky Charms. Ever since then, leprechauns have been depicted in green suits with green hats.

And that was kind of the point of the museum — that stories evolve over time, and that it’s important to know the history and legends but sometimes stories change, and that’s okay too.

After passing through a rainbow, we were treated to more stories and folklore. This museum would be absolutely cheesy without Nisha’s storytelling ability, which reeled everyone in. Not once did he stammer, stutter, forget his place, or repeat himself, and his stories did not feel like a performance — it felt like someone who knew all these legends and was sharing them. For our first stop in Dublin, it was a fantastic way to emerse ourselves into a bit o history and magic.

Oh, and that rainbow? It shrunk us all down to the size of leprechauns, as evident by this regular sized chair.

Part of being Irish is knowing how to tell a good story, and the National Leprechaun Museum did not disappoint.

Link: National Leprechaun Museum