Nuacht Aoir
Leprechaun International Convention
Near Reserve In Catron County
2026
A photograph of a rainbow near Reserve in Catron County prompted leaders of the leprechaun community to meet again in Southwest New Mexico. (The photograph was provided courtesy of Linnea Hendrickson, May 28, 2009.
They're back.
The leprechauns are back in Southwest New Mexico.
For the past few weeks, Nuacht Aoir has observed unusual movements across the borders of the United States. While many watch the international borders with Mexico and Canada, Nuacht Aoir has taken an active interest in watching movements in other locales.
For example, tiny ships have been seen traveling on the Brazos River. These ships were later seen seemingly abandoned near a number of railroad depots in Texas and New Mexico. It appears that the abandoned ships were placed near railroad depots to lessen the likelihood that the travelers would be followed into Southwest New Mexico.
It appears that instead of using rail transportation, these travelers utilized mules for their transit across the Land of Enchantment.
A major supplier of mules confirmed – exclusively – to Nuacht Aoir that the business received a contract from a "foreign entity based in Ireland" to supply 76 mules in "America's Southwest." The firm, requesting anonymity, explained that the business was too frightened to discuss specifics of the contract.
"We were warned by 'Donnchadha' not to release any information," said a representative of the mule business. "He said that they have the ability to listen in on our communications – internally, by telephone, and by satellite. He explained what might happen if we said anything about their activities."
That name – "Donnchadha" – sounded familiar.
When the representative of the mule business was asked explicitly if "Donnchadha" was "Donnchadha the Leprechaun," the phone connection dropped.
A moment later, the telephone of Nuacht Aoir rang. A voice on the other end stated, "We don't listen to your telephone calls." That phone connection then dropped.
Nuacht Aoir knew we must be on the right track.
Tiny boats. Diversions that appear to be using multiple railroad depots. A contract with a major supplier of mules. Threats not to say anything. Dropped phone calls.
We followed our instincts and saw that the movement of mules was being monitored by the U S Department of Homeland Security. But, because of the partial government shutdown, no one at the Department was actually watching the monitors.
Several packs of wolves were also seen in the vicinity of the mules, but there appeared to be no interaction between the mules and the wolves.
Nuacht Aoir – using our well-developed connections with the Mexican Wolves of New Mexico and Arizona – sought out leaders of this organization. "Timmy," the President Pro Temp of the Mexican Wolves of New Mexico and Arizona, confirmed that the wolves were watching the mules move into their territory.
"We had been alerted through our friends in Washington that there would be a large contingent of mules moving through the territory we were given by the Federal government," Timmy said. "We initially thought this was simply a 'heads-up' that the Federal government was providing some tasty treats for our wolves."
"After all, running after cows, deer, elk, and other prey in our territory gets tiring – even for us wolves," he continued. "We looked forward to 'welcoming' the 76 mules as they arrived in our territory."
"You can understand our disappointment when we were told who hired the mules," said Timmy. "While we wolves stand our ground – as proud Mexican Wolves of New Mexico and Arizona – we don't mess with those leprechauns."
Nuacht Aoir had to ask – you knew we had to just ask – why the leader of the Mexican Wolves of New Mexico and Arizona would be named "Timmy."
Well, Timmy had the answer.
"We – the Mexican Wolves of New Mexico and Arizona – hired a public relations firm from New York City last year," he said. "We've been getting a bad reputation from lots of the folks in New Mexico and Arizona – especially the folks in Catron County. They don't seem to like the fact that we're back in our own home territory. Thanks to the leaders in Washington, there is no international border recognized anymore by the Mexican Wolves of New Mexico and Arizona."
"The PR firm recommended using less ferocious-sounding names," Timmy continued. "Names more appropriate for sheep. So, I became 'Timmy.' Other leaders also took names that the PR firm indicated would be better received by the local folks."
"The folks in New York City explained that once it appeared that we were trying to assimilate into the local communities – the important word being 'appeared' – we could better locate who has the best food in the area. Then our gal 'Dolly,' for example, could revert to her real wolf name and enjoy a tasty meal of calves."
With confirmation from Timmy, it was time for Nuacht Aoir to officially contact the leprechauns.
We tried several telephone numbers, but the first few appeared to be answered by artificial intelligence. Each offered to help us find fruits and vegetables that go well with wolf meat. Say what you want about those leprechauns, subtle they are not.
We didn't leave any messages until we reached an answering service that began with "Hey stupid humanoid! Leave a message you stupid humanoid!"
We knew we had reached Donnchadha the Leprechaun.
(Leprechauns only have one name; a few prominent leprechauns are allowed to add "the Leprechaun" to their name. Donnchadha is one of the more prominent Irish leprechauns.)
As we began to leave a message, Donnchadha the Leprechaun picked up the call.
"I screen all my calls, you stupid humanoid," was the initial comment from Donnchadha the Leprechaun. "You'd be amazed at how many calls I get from you humanoids wanting to sell me a car warranty. Why would I ever buy a warranty from you humanoids?"
Donnchadha the Leprechaun already knew that we had been tracking the leprechauns on the Brazos River, knew about the railroad depot diversions, the contract for the mules, and the threats to the Mexican Wolves of New Mexico and Arizona.
"Yes, we talked with that Timmy," said Donnchadha the Leprechaun. "We enjoyed de-fanging that wolf. You humanoids are so scared of those wolves. The wolves are scared of us leprechauns. We told that Timmy very clearly what we would do if any of our mules was touched."
"We were ready – and are ready – to launch 'Operation Yellowstone,'" he continued. "We would transport the Canadian wolves from Yellowstone into southwest New Mexico and let them loose. Let me tell you, that Timmy doesn't want to come snout-to-snout with those Canadians wolves."
Donnchadha the Leprechaun indicated he was not able to talk much during the telephone call, but did agree to schedule an in-person interview – an exclusive interview – with Nuacht Aoir.
The interview took place in an undisclosed location in Catron County on Sunday.
Nuacht Aoir has learned – exclusively – that the Leprechaun International Convention is taking place today, Saint Patrick's Day, near Reserve. This is the fifth year that the leprechauns have convened in the region. In 2022, the leprechauns met in Silver City; in 2023, the convention took place in Catron County; in 2024, this international symposium occurred near Lordsburg; and in 2025, the gathering of leprechauns took place near Gila.
We asked why the leprechauns have returned to Catron County.
In previous interviews, Donnchadha the Leprechaun relayed that the concentration of rainbows in Southwest New Mexico was a major reason the leprechauns first came to the region a few years ago. The number of rainbows that have appeared here continue to intrigue the leprechauns.
A rainbow – seen in the photo above – from 2009 seemed to be of great interest to the leprechauns.
"Our artificial intelligence programming helped us locate a mining operation in the area," Donnchadha the Leprechaun said. "Various governmental reports indicated that Sergeant James Cooney was the first person to find gold ore in the mountains of Catron County in the late 1800s. His mine also appeared to have silver and copper deposits too."
"The Cooney family – otherwise known as the 'O'Cooney family' – is historically from the Ulster and the Connaught provinces of Ireland," he continued. "We leprechauns have a great affinity and respect for some of the humanoids in Ulster and Connaught. Especially those with an 'O' or 'Mc' in their names. Even – sometimes – those with a 'Mac' in their names. We don't have any respect and certainly no affinity for the English who ravaged the leprechaun home country."
"Believe me, if you think that that Timmy feared 'Operation Yellowstone,' you can imagine what the English think when we mention some of our other potential operations that we could unleash on those humanoids," said Donnchadha the Leprechaun.
Getting back to the reasons why the leprechauns have returned to Catron County, Donnchadha the Leprechaun mentioned the Cooney mine was in the Mogollon Mountains of what was then part of Socorro County.
"Once our leprechaun experts found the actual location of that mine, we knew we had to explore it for gold," Donnchadha the Leprechaun said. "Several rainbows were pointing to the area where the mine was located. If it had gold there in the late 1800s, it might still have some gold."
"While that is still a possibility, we also recognize that the gold was likely removed from the mine and stored elsewhere," he continued. "We are utilizing a variety of high-tech devices invented by the leprechauns to locate the pots of gold we believe are still here."
The interview with Donnchadha the Leprechaun was interrupted by a text message received by the elite leprechaun.
With that, Donnchadha the Leprechaun ended the interview in his characteristic manner referencing how the stupid humanoid associated with Nuacht Aoir and the stupid humanoids of Southwest New Mexico would never truly understand the leprechauns.
The Leprechaun International Convention continues through this evening near Reserve.
Happy Saint Patrick's Day!
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