Do leprechauns exist?

[jeremyp]

On another thread I came across this assertion.

Look Gordon I do not believe Leprechauns exist. I cannot absolutely prove it but I can give supporting argument for my assertion,

So what are the arguments that leprechauns do not exist?

[Bubbles]

On another thread I came across this assertion.

So what are the arguments that leprechauns do not exist?

Of course they exist! I'd like to see someone prove that they don't.

Seamus Doolittle, the lead scientist in ‘Project Leprechaun,’ described the creature as a “small, wrinkly old man with a bulbous nose and frizzy red beard.”

According to Doolittle, the leprechaun was wearing a pair of dark green knickerbockers, a frilly white shirt, buckled shoes, white stockings, and a top hat. He was also carrying a pot of gold.

“He stood about three feet high,” added Doolitttle, “which was a lot bigger than we expected him to be.”

Doolittle said he got the idea to catch a leprechaun after hearing colleagues say that the mythical creature did not exist.

“Most scientists don’t believe in leprechauns,” said Doolittle. “I wanted to prove them all wrong, so I set out to the woods to catch one myself.”

“And if there’s still any doubt,” added Doolittle, “tell those skeptics to come look at the little bugger in my lab. That’ll shut ‘em up.”


http://weeklyworldnews.com/headlines/28208/scientists-capture-leprechaun/

[Bubbles]

Irish Scientists Claim To Have Found “REAL Life Leprechaun Cave”

Researchers at Trinity College Dublin have discovered a cave on Ireland’s northwest coast which they believe was once the actual home of a leprechaun. Scientific evaluation of the artifacts found in the small cave reveals that shoe-making equipment, maps and gold coins were apparently left behind by the leprechaun sometime between the years 1650 and 1700.
 
The initial discovery was made by two amateur cavers who are TCD students, on holiday in the fishing town of Killybegs. They heard myths recounted by locals about a small, mysterious cave hidden about 2 km up the shoreline, and set out to investigate. After several days of searching they found what appeared to be the entrance to a cave, well-camouflaged by large rocks and trees. The outcropping was engraved with what seemed to be a rudimentary form of Gaelic lettering. However, the cave was much too small for them to enter and explore, with the entrance only about 60 cm tall.
http://beforeitsnews.com/alternative/2014/06/irish-scientists-claim-to-have-found-real-life-leprechaun-cave-2967578.html

[jeremyp]

Those are arguments that leprechauns do  exist and are therefore off topic, I asked for arguments that leprechauns don't exist. Vlad says he has some, so there must be some.

[Bubbles]

Those are arguments that leprechauns do  exist and are therefore off topic, I asked for arguments that leprechauns don't exist. Vlad says he has some, so there must be some.

but you have to go through all the arguments that they do exist before you can refute them 

The main one for them existing is human experience and encounters and what people claim to have found.

If he wants to refute it, he needs to show that these particular experiences have no basis in reality.

Which can be subjective.

There are people out there who claim to have seen them, just like there are people who claim to have had a christian religious experience.

Why is one valid? And not the other?

[jeremyp]

but you have to go through all the arguments that they do exist before you can refute them 

Good point.

There are people out there who claim to have seen them, just like there are people who claim to have had a christian religious experience.

Another excellent answer. It's beginning to look like Vlad doesn't have a leg to stand on.

[Bubbles]

Crikey! If this is right, leprechauns even have protection under the EU.

You've heard of the horse whisperer

Now there was also a leprechaun whisperer

Know locally as McCoillte (Kevin Woods) is Irelands last Leprechaun Whisperer.
In 1989 a leprechaun suit, bones, and gold coins were found on Carlingford mountain in Co Louth Ireland.
No was was more sceptical than the Whisperer and he organised a leprechaun hunt that year to try and catch one but none were found.
In 2002 he found the gold coins in a stone wall on Ghan Road which enabled him to communicate  with "Carraig" the elder of the 236 surviving leprechauns.
By 2009 they were afforded protected by the E.U.under the European Habitats Directive.
In 2010 he published his first book "The Last Leprechauns of Ireland" based on their lives.
 
http://www.thelastleprechaunsofireland.com/page_3106212.html

 

Seriously? leprechauns have protection under the EU habitats directive?

That's more than Jesus has got, surely? 😉🌹

I wonder if " Nessie " is protected too?

[floo]

Leprechauns are just as real as the Biblical deity!

[SusanDoris]

Super posts, Rose! How did you find all this stuff??

[BeRational]

On another thread I came across this assertion.

So what are the arguments that leprechauns do not exist?

I don't believe they exist either, which is of course the default position.

I do not however, believe that they do NOT exist.

[Brownie]

They definitely do exist, I've seen them on the telly.   They are quite small and shy and generally only children see them (Ralph on 'The Simpsons' knows them well), but as I've got older I have seen them occasionally.

[Bubbles]

Super posts, Rose! How did you find all this stuff??

I'm always interested in the odd and strange  I always have been.

I'm not a believer, and don't go in for the theories, but just like looking and wondering.

I like speculating 

I even investigated a UFO once, for my local UFO club. ( when I was about 19)

Interviewed and recorded the guy who saw it, went to my local garage to find out if the effects to his car was even possible.

Really interesting stuff.

With the internet I can read up even more on interesting folk law and legends and find out things.

I enjoy it, I suppose.

It's much easier now with the Internet, plus you can also read the opposing views too, which is less so with a book.

Sometimes, it makes me laugh, a book I have ATM describes where I live in really conspiracy theory terms which involves devil worship.

It's hilarious, it even involves a club I am close to. ( pagan roots but in this book pagan = devil worship)

All illuminati, secret societies and theories why we have owls on our buildings and the relevance of street names and positioning of buildings.

Even Dick Turpin is in there 

I tend to read things like leprechauns and legends because it interests me, the one on the book about where I live because it made me laugh more than most comedies.

 

[Nearly Sane]

They definitely do exist, I've seen them on the telly.   They are quite small and shy and generally only children see them (Ralph on 'The Simpsons' knows them well), but as I've got older I have seen them occasionally.

I would expect a Brownie to be able to see them

http://galatiansfour.blogspot.co.uk/2013/11/fairies-gnomes-elves-and-more.html?m=1

[jeremyp]

I don't believe they exist either, which is of course the default position.

I do not however, believe that they do NOT exist.

Sorry but Vlad says you need arguments in order to justify your lack of belief in leprechauns.

[Bubbles]

I don't believe they exist either, which is of course the default position.

I do not however, believe that they do NOT exist.

If you don't believe they exist either, then you believe they don't exist.

If you never encountered stories of leprechauns, then you wouldn't have an opinion on it, not until someone told you.

You have assumed you hold the default position, I'd challenge that.

The default position is held by someone who has never heard of them, you obviously have, therefore you have an opinion.

That they do not exist.

[Bubbles]

Sorry but Vlad says you need arguments in order to justify your lack of belief in leprechauns.

We all have arguments one way and another for what we believe either does or doesn't exist.

Individuals weigh up the arguments differently.

All this nonsense about babies being born atheist is of th same ilk. IMO.

An atheist is someone who has weighed up the available evidence and expressed an opinion on it.

A baby doesn't do that until it is older.
We have no way of knowing what all babies believe, probably based on their very limited experience.

Atheist is not a default position.

( it's all a plot by the atheists to make themselves the centre of the universe    )

[OH MY WORLD!]

Really floo? Another day of your, making fun of God? "...just as real as the Biblical deity" Isn't that interesting, are leprechauns just as real as your famous Tesco cookie or your fireplace Jesus? You have no shame lady!

Jeremy,
I wouldn't be surprised that they exist. And hey, many atheists will tell ya that they think aliens exist on other planets, but they will produce NO evidence when challenged.

[BeRational]

Sorry but Vlad says you need arguments in order to justify your lack of belief in leprechauns.

I lack a belief in a potentially infinite number of things.
I do not have enough time.

[Bubbles]

I lack a belief in a potentially infinite number of things.
I do not have enough time.

It's something I find interesting, exploring and sorting through stuff, coming to my own conclusions.

I think of it more as a hobby.

To me, it's what makes life interesting.

Just finding out is fun, you don't have to believe anything.

Sometimes it's just interesting, because people are interesting.

[jeremyp]

I lack a belief in a potentially infinite number of things.
I do not have enough time.

That's your problem. Vlad says you need an argument for each and every one of the things you don't believe in, but leprechauns specifically.

Actually, it seems odd to me that he hasn't posted his arguments here yet. Maybe he has a particularly matte turd that needs polishing.

[Bubbles]

That's your problem. Vlad says you need an argument for each and every one of the things you don't believe in, but leprechauns specifically.

Actually, it seems odd to me that he hasn't posted his arguments here yet. Maybe he has a particularly matte turd that needs polishing.

It all boils down to the same argument. It doesn't take too long.

Having not seen one, I want evidence outside human experience that cannot be falsified and is reliable.

Depending on what there is determines if I believe it exists. It's all shades of grey really.

Leprechauns, unicorns, fairies, Nessie  , I don't think the sort of evidence exists therefore I don't think they exist.

Dinosaurs I believe existed because there is enough evidence, all over the world, from different sources.

As I come across and read new ones, I make choices based on what I can find out.

Sometimes I make choices based on how likely it is.

Life on other planets for example. Which I think is very likely.

But a lot of the arguments are still subjective.

It depends what you use to support the arguments.

With leprechauns,  they are most unlikely, one of their attributes is being all male.

How do you get little leprechauns for a start ?

And why are they always old with a ginger beard?

And why are they all cobblers, tapping out minute shoes?

So is it likely there  is a species of male only, short, ginger bearded, drunken cobblers, with a pot of gold?

Not to mention the world that then opens up with who they are making shoes for.........?

I think the only place you might find such a congregation of males talking cobblers while drunk ,matching those features might be at some football stadiums 

But I'd best not generalise 

[Hope]

Of course they do.  The word 'leprechaun' basically comes from the Old Irish words 'lu' - small - and 'corp'-  body.  http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=leprechaun

There are a whole host of this kind of being across the world, and they would have started out their lives as little more than precisely that - people described by certain physical features.  Over the centuries, probably for a number of reasons (perhaps that particular feature became rarer) societies began to endow them with more than just physical powers.  Why?  I have no idea, but I've heard it suggested that this might have something to do with a belief that such people - having been 'short-changed' in some respects - had other powers to make up for that.

[Hope]

Leprechauns, unicorns, fairies, Nessie  , I don't think the sort of evidence exists therefore I don't think they exist.

A unicorn was spotted in California on Saturday.  Its all there on the BBC website     so it must be true

[Brownie]

Leprechauns reproduce by binary fission.

Unicorns have become extinct but they were beautiful creatures back in the day - not that I remember them of course.

[floo]

Leprechauns reproduce by binary fission.

Unicorns have become extinct but they were beautiful creatures back in the day - not that I remember them of course.

Really, that does surprise me!