Darby O'Gill and the Little People facts for kids

Darby O'Gill and the Little People is a fun fantasy adventure film made by Walt Disney Productions in 1959. It's based on the "Darby O'Gill" stories by Herminie Templeton Kavanagh. The movie was directed by Robert Stevenson. It tells the magical tale of an old Irish caretaker and his adventures with leprechauns.

What the Story is About

Darby O'Gill is an old caretaker who lives in a small Irish town called Rathcullen. He lives with his daughter, Katie. Darby loves trying to catch a tribe of leprechauns, especially their king, Brian Connors.

Lord Fitzpatrick, who owns the estate, decides to replace Darby with a younger man. His name is Michael McBride, and he is from Dublin. Darby asks Michael to keep this a secret from Katie. Michael agrees, even though he is not happy about it.

One day, Darby chases a magical horse named Cleopatra. She is actually a pooka, a type of Irish spirit. While chasing her, Darby is captured by King Brian and his leprechauns. They take him to their secret mountain home, Knocknasheega. King Brian wants to keep Darby there so Katie won't find out about his job.

Darby is very clever. He tricks the leprechauns into opening the mountain. He plays a special tune on King Brian's violin, and the leprechauns leave. Darby escapes, expecting King Brian to follow him. When Brian does, Darby challenges him to a friendly game. He manages to capture the leprechaun king at sunrise, when Brian's magic is weak.

Because Darby caught him, King Brian has to grant him three wishes. But Brian warns Darby that if he wishes for a fourth thing, he will lose all his wishes. Darby's first wish is for Brian to stay with him for two weeks. Brian then tricks Darby into using his second wish. This wish helps Katie and Michael become closer friends.

A local bully named Pony Sugrue wants Michael's new job. He also wants to be with Katie. Pony's mother, Sheelah, tells Katie that Darby has lost his job. Katie gets very upset and confronts Darby and Michael. Later, Katie chases Cleopatra, the magical horse, to Knocknasheega. She becomes very ill with a fever.

A banshee appears, which is a spirit that warns of death. It calls a Dullahan, a headless rider on a death coach, to take Katie's soul. King Brian feels sad for Darby. He grants Darby's third wish, which is for Darby to take Katie's place on the death coach.

Inside the death coach, King Brian comforts Darby. Then, Brian cleverly tricks Darby into wishing for Brian's company in the afterlife. This counts as a fourth wish! Because of this, all of Darby's wishes are canceled. Darby is freed from the death coach and returns to Katie. Katie then makes a full recovery.

Later, Michael stands up to Pony at the pub and makes him look foolish. Michael and Katie fall in love, and Darby is very happy for them.

Meet the Cast