After a long and weary winter, there is finally a light at the end of the tunnel. For many, the warm weather and blooming flowers of spring will be welcomed with open arms. But these pleasantries are not the only attractions of the coming season. A holiday filled with Irish cheer is fast approaching. That’s right; St. Patrick’s Day is right around the corner. With this day of rainbows and pots of gold comes the opportunity of a lifetime: to catch a leprechaun.

The magic of St. Patty’s dates back to the 5th century when Saint Patrick brought Christianity to Ireland, along with a parade of green, Irish jigs and the tiny folklore fairies we know to be leprechauns. Now, I know what you might be thinking: these leprechauns must be pretty old, and surely no match for intelligent beings like you and me, right? 

Wrong. This is the first mistake where so many plans go awry. Any experienced leprechaun-catcher would know that these fairies have spent the past 16 centuries honing their skills, immune to the onslaught of time. All those years have produced some of the most cunning creatures on this earth. Known for their love for pranks, these devious tricksters lead solitary, antisocial lives. Their profession of choice is mending shoes, which only sharpens their precision.

However, it’s no secret that generations of children have plotted and schemed in attempts to catch a leprechaun. In the face of the challenges that persist in tracking one down, the allure of the leprechauns lie in their fabled magic. Legend has it that catching one of these fairies will grant you three wishes of your choosing. These priceless wishes could bring riches and luxuries untold. 

With their impressive arsenal of skills, it’s safe to say that these fairies cannot be underestimated. That leaves us with the golden question: how do you outsmart a leprechaun? For this answer, we’ll have to travel to their homeland at the end of the rainbow.

Another thing about leprechauns is that they are very proud of their culture. With their ginger beards and Irish accents, you could say they practically bleed green. This is the very character flaw we are looking to exploit. A leprechaun’s greatest weakness is their love for their homeland delicacies, with the greatest of them all being Lucky Charms. Specifically, the marshmallows sprinkled through the cereal like diamonds in the rough are the key to their hearts. 

If you’ve learned anything so far, you can see where this is going. Here is where Operation Lucky Charms takes shape: we are going to lure a leprechaun right into our hands with the famed cereal as bait. The fairies won’t be able to resist the calling of their prized marshmallows, and they will walk right into our trap.  

Although the game plan sounds simple enough, the execution is a little more complicated. Naturally, the leprechauns are well aware of our attempts to catch them, so we have to be extra careful. One potential hiccup is their uncanny ability to evade capture. Reports claim that leprechauns have the tendency to disappear the moment you take your eyes off them. With that being said, do not let your guard down once you have a fairy in your clutches; the job’s not done. 

Now that you’re well-versed in the habits of leprechauns and equipped with a foolproof plan, you’re ready for the big day. With the help of this guide, this St. Patrick’s day is sure to go down in history as the most memorable one yet. In the spirit of St. Patty, good luck and happy leprechaun-catching!