Carlingford National Leprechaun Hunt takes place this Sunday

The annual Carlingford National Leprechaun Hunt takes place this Sunday.

The hunt takes place from 2pm to 4.30pm with all involved asked to assemble at the Fairgreen in Carlingford between 1pm and 1.45pm.

Those taking part pay €5 for a hunting licence and will then hunt for 100 individual ceramic Leprechauns, each of which has a rewarded recorded on his heel.

The total value of the rewards is €1,000 and can be claimed from 5pm at The Village Green in Carlingford.

For further details call 042 93 73033 or visit www.lastleprechaunsofireland.com

Fairy horse returned to Carlingford

Kevin Woods with the fairy horse

A gang who stole a fairy horse from Carlingford have returned it.

However, owner Kevin Woods – who warned they would be cursed for stealing it – says the curse won’t be lifted until they also return a swiped cement mixer.

The fairy horse was stolen from outside a leprechaun cave at the weekend.

Leprechaun whisperer Kevin Woods, who owns the horse, said in The Irish Sun newspaper at the time that those who took it would be cursed.

However, he said they would still risk warts appearing in “tricky” spots over the theft from his folklore park in Carlingford.

Gardai confirmed the Irish Sun’s report on the disappearance was instrumental in the three-foot fairy horse being recovered this week.

Kevin said: “I was delighted to hear it had been found and I believe it was purposely left at St Bridget’s shrine in Faughart because they knew it was cursed.”

He added: “I got a call to say it was seen at the shrine by a woman who had read in the Irish Sun newspaper about it being taken. I was delighted.

“However I don’t believe the curse will be lifted until the cement mixer which was stolen at the same time is returned to where it should be.”

Kevin added: “The curse on those who took it is one of blindness and warts that appear in what we will call tricky places.”

The fairy horse is being kept in a secure location by Gardaí who have forensically examined it for clues to the theft.

Previously: Fairy horse stolen from Carlingford

Fairy horse stolen from Carlingford

Tori Anna McShane on the fairy horse

A two foot fairy horse has been stolen from Carlingford.

The cast-iron pony was swiped from outside a cave at Folklore Park.

Now its owner, local businessman and self-proclaimed leprechaun whisperer Kevin Woods, insists those who took it will have nothing but bad luck.

Speaking to The Sun, he said: “The CCTV shows the horse being taken away in a white van but we don’t know who took it. All I can tell you is that it will bring bad luck to whoever took it because it is a fairy horse and is part of the folklore of the whole region.”

Garda are investigating the theft and believe the horse may have been taken across the border. They believe that the gang who robbed the metal horse may also have hit a number of other Dundalk businesses where copper wire was stolen.

Kevin added: “On CCTV you can clearly see a number of men pulling the fairy horse off the plinth and down the steps to a waiting van.

“They tried to take the brown bull, which was close to the horse but it looks like it was too heavy for them. It is made from cast iron too. They also took a cement mixer.”

Anyone with information on the theft is asked to contact Gardaí in Dundalk or Omeath.

Source: Away with the fairy horse (The Irish Sun)