Leprechaun Hunt set for Sunday

The National Leprechaun Hunt in association with Cooley Distillery will take place on Sunday in Carlingford.

The charitable family event aims to raise much needed funds for Our Lady’s Hospital for Sick Children and local charities.

To join the hunt, you must purchase a Leprechaun Prospecting Licence and cash prizes are awarded to those lucky enough to find one of up to 100 Leprechauns hidden among the Carlingford hills. Leprechaun Prospecting Licences can be purchased on the day for e5.

Since Cooley Distillery was set up in 1987 there has been a marked increase in the number of Leprechaun sightings on the Carlingford Mountains. It would appear that the little fellows are as partial to a drop of golden whiskey as they are to their coveted gold coins.

This is the second year that Cooley Distillery, the multi-award winning Irish distillery, has supported the National Leprechaun Hunt. Located in Riverstown, on the steps of the Carlingford Mountain, the Distillery is a long time advocate for the protection of the Leprechaun’s natural habitat.

In 2010, the EU designated a Special Protection Area for Little People on the Carlingford Mountain so the public are asked to refrain from attempting to capture any real Leprechauns during the hunt. Last year, the National Leprechaun Hunt attracted over 3,000 people of all ages who enjoyed the Leprechaun hunting experience.

National Leprechaun Hunt organiser, Kevin Woods who is known locally as “a Leprechaun Whisper” commented: “We are delighted to have Cooley Distillery come on board again this year. Their support for the protection of the Leprechauns habitat has been invaluable.

“The Leprechauns on the Cooley Mountains are the last Leprechauns of Ireland still in existence. There are only 236 left in total and we are fortunate in Carlingford to be the protectors of their last remaining habitat.”

Hunters are asked to assemble at “The Green” in Carlingford where they will be taken to the hunting area, which will be marked out by four flagpoles. Rewards up to e2,000 can be claimed back in the village at 5pm after the hunt finishes at 4.30pm.