In gardens all over the United Kingdom you will find the mischievous, brightly coloured gnome, depicted in many different ways. Pushing along a tiny wheelbarrow, using a minute fishing rod to catch a fish, digging with a garden spade and many other weird and wonderful connotations.
The British gnome bears an uncanny resemblance to the quintessential Irish Leprechaun, traditionally portrayed as a bearded, little man, wearing a bright green hat and coat, he got up to all sorts of practical jokes and mischief making. The typical Leprechaun would partake in various pranks such as sneaking into your garage/shed and mixing up all your tools so you couldn’t find anything. They would replace brand new shelving with used pallet racking Ireland and take all your new tools to replace them with dirty old ones.
Unlike the typical British gnome who likes to gather in groups the Irish Leprechaun is a solitary creature who spends his spare time, when not mischief making, mending shoes and he is known to have a giant pot of gold that he hides away safely at the end of a rainbow. The story goes that if you manage to catch one of these allusive creatures that they will grant you three wishes in exchange for letting them go free. Associated mainly with St Patricks day, drinking beer and smoking a pipe, they are also an Irish good luck charm.