Author: Dawn Rainbolt, Marketing Project Manager Published: Jan 20, 2022 More by DawnThe Wee Folk of IrelandWhen most people think of fairies, they imagine the Hollywood version – adorable, winged creatures living in woodlands among pretty flowers, waving tiny magic wands. But this is a far cry from the Irish version of a fairy.In Irish folklore, the Tuatha de Danann were one of the original inhabitants of Ireland—that is, until a warrior tribe, the Milesians (or Celts), arrived. The Milesians attacked and won a war against the Tuatha de Danann, eventually driving them underground. The Tuatha de Danann used their innate magic to become the Sidhe (pronounced Shee)—today known as the “fairies, “little people,” or the “wee folk. “Like most folkloric events, the fairies and their magical, mysterious ways are often used to make sense of the indescribable or incomprehensible. Pre-Christian monuments are said to have been built by fairy folk, bad luck and illness as a result of offending the fairies and people who disappear have been kidnapped by the little people. Even natural (and supernatural) phenomena can be explained by fairies. Generally, it’s best to avoid angering the fairies because who knows what they might do?Where to Find Irish Fairies“Fairy trees” are all over Ireland and associated with the Otherworld of the fairies. Even today, most people avoid damaging them.Entrances to the Otherworld of the fairies are everywhere – caves, tombs, barrows, forts, even tree hollows and roots. One example is a small cave in County Roscommon, Oweynagat Cave, which was long said to be the entrance to the Otherworld. This was later Christianised, like much of Irish ancient history, to become known as the “Entrance to Hell.”Lone Hawthorn trees – such as the tree pictured – are often called ‘fairy trees’. Some places inhabited by fairies are visible only to humans who have “the gift”.Other places are visible only once every seven years—one example is “Green Isle,” a fairy island said to sit off the Causeway Coast near Rathlin Island.In early Christian times, the people of Ireland associated anything vaguely pagan in origin as being related to the fairies, and in many people, the belief persists to this day. In fact, there are still some folk today who will claim to have seen fairies.Fairy forts are essentially the remains of Iron Age/early medieval ring forts, of which thousands remain in Ireland today. Farmers and landowners often plough and mow around them to avoid incurring the wrath of the little people. They also avoid disturbing Neolithic tombs, stone circles, and standing stones, all thought to be connected to the fairy world.In fact, in 1999, a new motorway was re-routed to save a fairy tree. Fear of fairy retribution has caused many major projects to topple, protecting these heritage sites and monuments associated with the wee folk.Folklore has played a more significant role in protecting these monuments and trees than the official government institutions.Interacting with the Fairy WorldKnocknashee, quite literally translating as “Hill of the Fairies.”There are countless stories of humans seeing fairies, interacting with them or even visiting the fairy world themselves. In many tales, the fairies live much the same way as the Irish; they farm, work, and party.According to Irish folklore and oral tradition, humans and fairies brushed shoulders on a frequent basis – the trick was to get along with them and not do anything that drew their attention.Specific methods were employed to keep the fairies at bay; garlands of marigolds and primroses at your door, the wood of the ash, rowan and blackthorn or a bag of clover around your neck were all means of self protection from fairies. Another way was to turn your coat inside out when passing a fairy. And they aren’t fond of iron, salt or bread either.There are accounts of humans being stolen away by the little people, either in mind or body or both. In versions of the tale, their loved ones attempt to rescue them. Usually, this is with the help of a wise woman with experience of the fairy world, following precise, and sometimes bizarre, instructions. If they are followed exactly, a loved one is returned, and if not, they live on in the fairy world.One of the thousands of fairy forts found throughout Ireland.If you were fortunate, you would be returned without any intervention. But the snag is that time works differently in the fairy world; one night can equate to a year.Fairies were said to employ humans to work for them for either one or seven years. And if you spent seven years with the fairies, you would return with a magical gift – the number seven being an important symbol in Irish folklore.These humans hired to work either as servants or farm labourers, often return with a warning not to talk about their experience, and not to point out or recognise the fairies. Failure to do this usually results in a punishment, such as losing one’s voice or memory.In some ways, t...