（A: Akiko, S: Seamus, P: Patrick, C: Cashell）

S: How are you ladies and gentlemen? Now, gather round, because Akiko asked me to tell you the story of St. Patrick's Day.

A: Is it okay to ask questions, Seamus?

S: Absolutely. Well, now, the first thing you should know is that St. Patrick's Day is celebrated by many people all over the world, whether they're Irish or not. Here in Dublin, the parade is part of a five day festival. We have hundreds of thousands of people every year.

P: I know the biggest St. Patrick's Day parade is in New York City – but St. Patrick's in Dublin is something special!

S: That it is. Now, St. Patrick's Day was a religious holiday. It became a public holiday in 1903. And the public celebrates with shamrocks and leprechauns everywhere.

C: When I was a kid, leprechaun stories were my favorite – Seamus, you know any of those?

S: Of course I do. Now, here's a true story for you. Now, you often see leprechauns around St. Patrick's – and I have a special affection for them. Well, long ago, in Dublin, it was the night before St. Patrick's. My grandpa went to the stable to take care of his old horse. As he walked along, he heard something tapping, tapping, tapping, like a shoemaker making a shoe. And he heard a whistling – the sweetest tune Grandpa O'Brien had ever heard. It had to be a leprechaun!

A: （へえ、姿は見えないけど小さなレプラコーンが何かコツコツ叩くような音を出していたんだ）

S: Now, Grandpa O'Brien had a little farm, but he was a poor man. He remembered the stories of leprechauns and their gold, so he crept in. He looked around but he couldn't find the leprechaun anywhere. But he heard him tapping and whistling and so he looked and looked, till at last did he see the little fellow.

A: Where was he?

S: He was in the stable, with his little leather shoemaker's apron, and a hammer in his hand. He was hammering and whistling so loud that he didn't know O'Brien was there, till Grandpa caught up the leprechaun by the scruff of his neck.

"I have you now," said O'Brien. "And I'll never let you go till I get your purse, no I won't. So give it to me here, at once!"

"Stop, stop!" cries the leprechaun. "Stop till I get it for you!"

So, my grandfather made a foolish move: he believed the leprechaun and let him go. The little fellow jumped out of his hand, laughing and laughing.

And O'Brien never saw the leprechaun again, and he didn't get a bit of the purse of gold.

A: （ふーん、逃げられちゃったんだ） Well, he was trying to take the gold...

S: That's true. But, the leprechaun left him a gift anyway. He left behind the little shoe that he was making. The shoe had a pointed toe, and a green silk bow. The heel was made of silver, and the top of the shoe was made of gold. He took that shoe, and he gave it to his daughter – my mother.

A: It sounds beautiful!

S: My own mother told me that she wore the little shoe on her costume at the St. Patrick's Day parade. She said "And that's how I met your father: he saw me in the parade and told me it was the prettiest little shoe he ever did see!". Two months later, they were married, and nine months later, they had me – so you can see why I like leprechauns!