March is a time when, for one reason and another, the irish side of my heritage comes to the fore. What better time, then, to study the Irish Fairies. Not your normal vison of fairies these, no gossamer winged. lightly clad females here. Oh to be sure there are some of the more widely known species of fae, the brownies, dryads, sprites, will-o-the-wisps etc, but there are also some who are peculiar to Ireland. Now everyone knows of the industrious leprechaun with his peculiar banking habits, but how many know of his cousin the clurichaun? A dapper little fellow this one, who will steal anything not locked down, drink anything potable and has a penchant for borrowing the shepherd's dogs and riding them round the countryside. Then theres the pooka, masquerading as a horse with fiery eyes, he has taking ways as well. The merrow, when she emerges from the water and doffs her red hat and sealskin cloak, will become a maiden as comely as the winsome celtic lass you may admire, She however is more likely to be a sidhe..maybe even the Lianhan Sidhe herself... The love fairy, don't mess with her unless you know the rules. The shy grogroch with his red brown coat of hair prefers to inhabit caves and rocks but can be quite helpful, However if he takes a shine to you he can be difficult to get rid of. Theres even an irish water monster, called the peiste, who guards the treasure at the bottom of the loughs. To be sure at times it seems as even the standing stones themselves are alive!