Leprechaun Go is aiming to be this summers most downloaded Irish app

Way back in the summer of 2016, a worldwide phenomenon was launched. Pokémon Go was launched for mobile devices by Nintendo. It had people out on the streets exercising as they tried to catch Pokémon. I even wrote an article for Irish Tech News about Pokémon Go etiquette.

Well, those days could be back here again this summer if Irish entrepreneur and app developer Dick Little has his way. Dick is banking on the government COVID-19 vaccine program being a success, which will allow us to get out and hopefully enjoy our summer. This is one of the reasons why he is developing Leprechaun Go, his unique version of Pokémon Go.

Dick is a big fan of Irish Folklore and thought that we need something to cheer us up during the tough times of the pandemic. He remembered back in 1989, as a ten-year-old seeing on the news, a story about a leprechaun’s suit and bones along with 4 pieces of gold in the suit been found in Foy Mountain above Carlingford Co Louth. This is where his love and interest in leprechauns started.

Dick laughs as he remembers the news story like it was yesterday. “We had just eaten a lovely dinner, Birds Eye fish and chips, and the six o’clock news was on RTE one. The leprechaun story then appeared, and I was engrossed.” 

Dick recalls that whenever he has Birds Eye fish and chips, he thinks back to that fateful day when he saw that news report. “It’s hard to imagine Birds Eye Fish and chips reminding me of leprechauns, but it does.” He chuckles, as he never thought it would lead him to where he is now.

Since that day, Dick kept an amateur eye on leprechauns whilst he stuck his head in his books. In 2002, he got a first-class computer science degree from Trinity College and in 2005 he founded Super Hyperactive Application Technology.

By 2010 SHAT was developing apps for Android phones and iPhones. His big break came when he developed the two apps for the Irish reality TV shows Northside Housewives and Southside Housewives. After that, SHAT developed an app and website for a well-known Irish newspaper and things really took off.

In 2016 he sold SHAT for €100M and became a tech angel investor. Last year was tough for Dick as he caught COVID-19 and spent 3 months recovering, During this recovery time, he decided to spend time getting back into app development, and slowly an idea started becoming reality. This idea is what we now know as Leprechaun Go.

So, what is Leprechaun Go and why should we be excited by it? Well, Leprechaun Go follows the premise of Pokémon Go, in that you go out and about to try and catch something. That something is leprechauns instead of Pokémon. Once you have caught a leprechaun, he will lead you to his crock of gold.

Naturally, when asked about how Leprechaun Go helps capture leprechauns, Dick just shrugs and claims “I can’t give away my proprietary trade secrets, but I will tell you this. Leprechauns have gotten very tech-savvy, and some of them have even reinvested their crocks of Gold in Bitcoin.”

To show how serious he is, Dick is planning to have talks with Irish government officials about the leprechaun’s crocks of gold being exempt from major taxation. He is hoping that crocks of gold will only be taxed at 5%.

Taxing at 5% means more people will be willing to download and purchase the app, which he is aiming to sell for 99 cents. with no in app purchases. It also means the government will have gained a new way of funding PUP.

So, does Dick think that Leprechaun Go will be a success? “Last night Michael Martin, announced that from midnight on April 12 in Ireland, The 5km limit will be scrapped and people will be allowed to travel within their own county or up 20km from their county border.

Dick added, “This will allow people to travel further looking for leprechauns, and with up to two households being permitted to meet outdoors in public areas, you can search with your friends.”

Besides, hopefully finding crocks of gold, Leprechaun Go has one other major benefit. It will help people exercise as they go out walking looking for leprechauns, and as the weather improves and our restrictions lessen this can only be a good thing.

Leprechaun Go is expected to be launched in late June 2021, and here at Irish Tech News, we will keep you updated on Leprechaun Go.