Micheleen Emmett O’Shea
By Deirdre McCarthy, Jim McCarthy
I met a wee leprechaun one summer’s day.
He called himself Micheleen Emmett O’Shea.
With his jacket of crimson and buttons of gold,
He was a fine vision for me to behold.
On shoes he was working as I wandered by
And dropping his hammer, he gave a great cry.
“Be Japers!” says he, “You gave me a scare.
Tell me how long have you been standing there?”
“Not long,” said I, hardly believing my eyes.
“You’re a leprechaun, sure, what a lovely surprise!
I’ve been out for a walk by this old castle ruin.
Now do you mind telling me, what’s that you’re doing?”
“Begorrah!” said he, “I’ll tell you all right.
These shoes I’ve been working on for a fortnight.
And if they’re not finished by Saturday morn,
I’ll have to put up with Her Majesty’s scorn.
For it’s the Queen of the Faeries, to whom they belong.
So be on your way little girl, get along!”
Said I, “That I’ll do, once you give me your gold.
For now that I’ve seen you, you must, so I’m told.
Now where are you hiding your treasure, do tell?
Is it up in a tree? Is it down in a well?”
“All right then!” said he “Tis way cross the bog,
Right next to the stream where there lives an old frog.
And if you dig deep, you’ll find it all right,
But you’d better start now, girl, for soon t’will be night.”
“Ah you’ll never regret meeting me here today
Or me name isn’t Micheleen Emmett O’Shea.”
Then I lifted him up, he was light as a feather,
And journeyed, we two, down the long road together.
And when we arrived at the place where ‘twas hid,
I knelt on the ground and here’s what I did:
I stared to dig with a stick that I found,
While Mr. O’Shea, sat himself on the ground.
But then his first trick he decided to pull.
“Look out!” shouted he, “’Tis a wild charging bull!”
But his prank didn’t work for my eyes wouldn’t stray.
“No, you’ll not get the better of me here today.”
For I had recalled what my dad had once said,
One night as he nestled me into my bed.
“If a leprechaun you should encounter by chance,
Don’t look away from him: hold firm your glance.
And if you should manage to not wince or cower
‘Tis then that you’ll have him firm in your power.”
Then Micheleen said, “Look, your house is on fire!”
Said I, “You’ll not trick me you crafty old liar.”
With my stomach now empty, my arms growing tired,
I struggled to search for the gold I desired.
Then something jumped straight up from out of the bog!
I turned and looked up and saw ‘twas a frog.
And when I looked back, Micheleen, he was gone.
But the sound of his wee little laugh lingered on.
Then I heard him cry out, “That ‘twas no frog at all,
But my friend, Padraigin, who came to my call.
Yet you’ll still ne’er regret meeting me here today
Or me name isn’t Micheleen Emmett O’Shea.”
Then away down the road the pair of them went
And with tears in my eyes, near a half-hour I spent.
As I wiped my eyes dry feeling sad as could be,
I saw a girl standing there smiling at me.
“Hello there,” said she. “I’m a new girl in town.
And I can’t help but notice you look very down.
My name is Sinead Finnuala O’Brien.
If you don’t mind me asking ya, why are you cryin’?”
“Oh you’ll never believe what just happened back there.
A leprechaun tricked me and ran off, I swear.”
Then softly said she, “Come to my house for tea.
A nice chat will make you feel better, you’ll see.”
Said I, “Your so kind. My name is Katie Malone,
And I’d give anything for some tea and a scone.”
And from that day forward, a great friendship grew.
And now looking back I can tell you ‘tis true:
That whether you’re young, or whether you’re old.
A good friend is always much better than gold.
And I often recall what that leprechaun said
As I drift off to sleep in my warm feather bed.
“You’ll never regret meeting me here today
Or my name isn’t Micheleen Emmett O’Shea.”
- Total nr. of readings: 13,847 Copyright © The author [2020] All Rights Reserved. This story may not be reproduced without the express written permission of the author except for personal use.Enjoyed that? Then you might like these...
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Age range: 3 to 5, 6 to 8, 9 to12, Teen Tags: Historical, Illustrated, Modern, Original, True Reading time: 01 - 05 mins- By: Deirdre McCarthy, Jim McCarthy
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- Category: Celtic, Folk Tale, Irish, Original, Poem
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- Full Catalogue
Loved this story. Well done. The authors have a very special gift to be able to write such a beautiful story like this. Such a beautiful story to narrate too.
Thanks so much Emer. I just found your comment from March 31st. Jim and I are so thrilled you enjoyed our story and that you think it’s great as a narrated story too. I am a storyteller, and as part of a Irish cultural program I tell this version of the story. So glad you like it~ Where are you located? I love the name Emer. I went to school with an Emer~ She was a great friend!
Slan,
Deirdre
Her story was delightful! No wonder it won! The rhyming was well done, too! I thoroughly enjoyed it!
Jennie
Thanks so very much Jennie for your lovely comment about our story. Thanks for taking the time to comment. So glad you enjoyed it.
Awesome job Jim & Dierdre! Love the story! Congratulations!
George,
Thanks so very much for reading the story and taking the time to comment. I hope your St. Patrick’s Day was fun! Jim and I really appreciate this honour so much.
Awesome little story. Loved it…
Thanks so much for reading our story Sandi and your lovely comment!
Happy St. Patrick’s Day to you and yours!
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What a cute story in rhyme! Just in time for St. Patrick’s Day! Reminded me of the story of the fairy shoemaker who tricked a boy who found him by telling him that the gold was buried under a tree. When he asked how he would know which tree, the tricky fairy shoemaker told him he’d tie a scarf around it. When the boy got to the trees, every tree had a scarf tied on it!
It’s a good one Jennie alright. Not too late to submit your story for the St. Patrick’s day competition either! 🙂