Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with this fun folktale about a man who comes upon a leprechaun in a cabbage field, and immediately demands the leprechaun to show him where his pot of gold is hidden. But when he agrees to show him, it turns out it is not going to be as easy as he thought to retrieve this treasure, because of course, leprechauns can be very cunning and crafty.
Spotlight Country – Ireland
Good stories can give us space in our lives to pause and ponder some bolt of beauty, some truth, or some new way of looking at life. It is what I call, the Story Souvenir.
Souvenir is a French word, meaning to remember. So it is some nugget of truth or some glimmer of truth about what it means to be human that will linger with us long after the last word is uttered – it is what our heart will remember most.
Each month we will pick one story for you to pause and ponder with your little listener – some discussion questions and some background about the country where the story takes place.
Discussion Questions
- Where did the leprechaun tell Liam his pot of gold was buried?
- Do you think that the pot of gold was really where the leprechaun said it was? Why?
- What would you have done if the leprechaun toldyou that you needed a spade to dig it up? Couldyou have found a way to trick the leprechaun?
- What do you think the story’s souvenir is?
Five Fun Facts about Ireland
1. The patron saint – St. Patrick was born in Scotland and NOT Ireland.
2. The nickname for Ireland is – The Emerald Isle.
3. There is an Irish saying that there are more sheep in Ireland than people.
4. Ireland’s national animal is the mountain hare.
5. Ireland has the largest number of red-haired people than any country in the world.
Some typical souvenirs from Ireland
Aran Jumper
Cladagh ring
A Fairy door
Shamrock keyring
Children’s Art Gallery
The Selfish Giant
The Tale of the Linani Beast by Owen
The Caterpillar’s voice by Madeline
Thanks to all of you who send us your listeners’ drawings – if you haven’t already done so, get in touch with us at www.journeywithstory.com and let us know your listener’s favorite story, and do send us their drawings and letters so we can share.
Join me next month for April’s Spotlight Story.
