Rhiannon

After all the stuff about fairies this seems rather mundane, it’s more like historical stories (albeit pretty muddled in its mix of pagan Irish tribes, Danish invaders and Christian institutions). The piece is still entitled ‘fairy forts’ though, so I guess the fairies turned up as tenants in the end.

In a field owned by Mr James Lonergan lie two large forts. They are situated by the side of the river Aherlow and are in the townland of Ballymorris.
It is said that they were built by the old Irish and in one of them a great chief lived. All that now remains of them is a mound of clay with a few whitethorn bushes growing round in a ring around it but once it was a huge fort.
Inside was the great house in which the chief lived: outside this was a great wall of clay and outside was a deep trench with the water from the river flowing into it.
When the Danes came to Ireland they plundered the fort, killed the chief and put the Irish tribe out and went in themselves.
It is said that they plundered St Pecaun’s church andtook some of the Sacred Vessels away and hid them in the fort. By now they were very strongly entrenched and they plundered every church school and monastery in the surrounding district.
The Irish at this time were fighting amongst themselves but after a while they united and drove the invader out of the fort and out of the district also. They restored the stolen treasures to the churches, schools and monasteries.

From the Schools Collection of the 1930s, now being transcribed at duchas.ie.

There are so many Irish sites which seem undocumented on the internet, it makes me wonder how many are out there hiding and could be found. But this one has a photo on the Megalithic Monuments of Ireland website, and it looks superb.

Harristown is a mile south of Rathdowney and there is a stone there with the marks of St Bridgid’s knees and head on it. I was told that long ago when she was passing she knelt on the stone to pray and the marks of her knees and head remained on it.
Anyone with a headache will be cured if he kneels on this stone.

This is from the Schools Collection from the 1930s, now being transcribed at duchas.ie. The stone is outside the graveyard (which is actually a circular fort) and according to the record on the Historic Environment map, there should be a holy thorn (also Bridgid / Bridget’s as well), which has or had coins hammered into its bark.

There is a flat stone on the side of the road in Shanbough (Sean-Both) which is known as the blessed stone. Shanbough is in this parish about a couple of miles from New Ross on the road to Mullinavat.

Long ago there was a giant, who was a saint, leaping from Tory Hill to Brandon. When the was passing over the stone he fell to the ground. One of his feet rested on the stone. Being so heavy, his foot-print remained on the stone and is still to be seen. There is always water in the hollow of the stone. People bathe sores or cuts in the water and are cured.

From the Schools Collection of the 1930s, currently being transcribed at duchas.ie.

I’ve been reading folklore for many standing stones which I can’t track down on the maps. Sometimes they are marked, but only on one sort of map. So sometimes when there’s no map trace at all, I wonder whether they might actually still exist in reality anyway. This is one of those times. The location seems quite definite, and it may well have gone unnoticed by a cartographer in its wood.

In a hill called Blackhill which is about a mile in a North Westerly direction from Abbeyleix there lies a famous old stone which a druid and his people used to worship at before the time of Saint Patrick. The stone itself is in a wood which covers all the hill and is now standing upright in the midst of a bunch of thorns on the top of the hill. It is now only about four feet above the ground and is very hard to find.

From the Schools Collection of the 1930s, now being transcribed at duchas.ie.

I’ve scoured the maps so hard to find the location of this story, and I think it could be right next to this stone. That is, there’s a lough with no water coming in or out, and on the historic 6” map a “Rock” is marked next to the lough. Please let me have it, I mean it’s not like you get a 50 ft whistling eel in a story every day, and surely with the Danes involved there must be some ancient connection. There’s a hill called Cashelbane close to the west, but we need a rock and a lough for the eel. I’m confused and need to visit.

The townland of Croagh lies half way between Calhame school and Binbawn Crossroads. In this district there is an ancient spot called Castlebawn where the Danes are supposed to have castles long ago. There they lived for many a year. On the Castlebawn a large grey stone whose circumference is about one hundred ft and whose height is about forty ft. This stone is said to mark the spot called the Golden Well where the Danes on their retreat from Croagh were supposed to hide their gold. One of the Danes was supposed to lift this large stone in his mighty hand and put it on top of the gold. The track of his five fingers are plain to see in it ever since. After the retreat of the Danes the old people who lived in those ages often gathered to the Castlebawn and tried to remove the stone to procure the hidden treasure.
When they would set to work with picks spades and shovels there would come out of the blind lough near by a whistling eel said to be fifty feet long. This monster would perch itself on top of the stone and lash its tail in every direction. Its whistles at the same time could be heard for miles around. The men would get so frightened at the whistling eel that they would run for home.
This whistling used to continue evening after evening for a long time. Then the men decided never to go near the stone.
Eventually the whistling eel disappeared but there the stone remains. It has ever since been called the Stone of the Hidden Treasure.

Forts are very common in my district. Some of the forts are called Liss, but they are mostly called forts. The forts in my district are in a line one after another. The fences that are around them are made of earth and stones. There is a fort about three miles from my district in which there is an opening in to an underground tunnel. The place where the fort is is called [?]. The end of the tunnel is another fort about a mile from it. The place is called Gurteen.
About two hundred years ago a man went through the tunnel. It is believed that there are beautiful houses and roads in the tunnel. No one ever went down there since because the man died a few days after. It is believed by the old people that the fairies are living in them. Some others believe that they are the fallen angels. When God cast them out of Heaven the Archangel Michael said “Let them be as they are” and they stayed in the forts. Others believe that they are the Tuatha De Danans.

From the Schools Collection of the 1930s, now being transcribed at duchas.ie.

The Griddle is the name of a townland in the southern part of the parish of Easkey. In this townland is a famous cromlech called the Griddle stone. The Griddle stone is a great big flat stone resting on three smaller stones. The old people say that this stone marks the burial place of a giant long ago.

From the Schools Collection of the 1930s.

Once upon a time it is said that two giants had a quarrel. One of them was on the Arigna mountain, and the other was on Slieve-an-Iern. They began to throw stones at each other, and the giant that was on Arigna Mountain threw a stone to Slieve an Iern. This stone is supposed to be fifty tons weight and the prints of this giant’s fingers are still on this huge stone.
It is called Prevago Stone and one man can shake it at his ease but two hundred men would not lift it.
On the last Sunday of July, Garland Sunday, it is the custom of young people to go to the mountain to pick bilberries and often four youths go up and dance an Irish Reel on the Stone. It is said also that the Arigna Giant killed the other giant with this stone and that he is buried under it.

From the Schools Collection of the 1930s. You can see a big rock on the aerial photo on the Historic Environment Viewer. I hope that’s the rocking stone. I hope it still rocks.

Not far from Ballyturn there is what the people of the place call a Dolmen – It consists of two large oblong stones standing on their sides and another flat stone on top, forming a kind of bed. It is supposed to be the grave of an Irish chieftain of long ago, but it is locally known as “leaba Diarmuda agus Grainne.” When flying from Finn Mac Coole, it is said that Diarmuid and Grainne rested here.

From the Schools Collection of the 1930s, now being transcribed at duchas.ie.

Perhaps I’ve got the wrong place, but Liss is very close and this certainly sounds like a ballaun, of which one is at these coordinates. The story is entitled “A Peculiar Stone”.

There is a square stone about eight inches long and eight inches wide in this locality. It is situated in a square field in the townland of Liss.
In the centre of the stone there is a hole which is always filled with water. It is supposed Saint Patrick knelt on it and left the print of his knee on it.
It is supposed that if you washed your hands with the water which is in the print you would never get warts.

From the Schools Collection of the 1930s, now being transcribed at duchas.ie.

I found a picture of this stone in a newsletter of the South East Galway Archaeological and Historical Society. It looks nice. And there’s a story to go with it:

There is a remarkable upright stone in the townland of Knockroe in the parish of Ballinakill.
It stands about eight feet over the ground and is about four feet wide by one and a half in thickness.
The local belief is that a famous giant threw it from Knockash hill a distance of about three miles. They say only for his foot slipped when he was throwing it he would lodge it on the Ben Hill about two mile further on to the south.
It is supposed that when he slipped he knocked a piece out of the mountain and the gap is there ever since.

This is from the Schools Collection of the 1930s, now being transcribed at duchas.ie.

This huge boulder, shaped like a chair, is the property of Mrs. McMonagle of Corrasheisk, Killygordon. A giant, long since dead, is supposed to have used it as a seat long ago. As an explanation of how the stone got there it is said that two giants over in Lismulladuff Glen – about three miles away- were testing their strength to see which could throw the stone the greater distance. The giant who won the test threw his stone on top of Cornasheisk Mt. and decided henceforth he would live there.
A little distance below the stone a huge tombstone marks the spot where the giant lies buried. The tombstone is cut out in the shape of the giants’s own body. Writing can be traced on the upper surface of the stone but it is so blurred that it is impossible to decipher it. Local tradition has it that a great treasure lies buried in this grave.

The hill’s also called Ballyarrell Mountain and the stone is on a steep south-facing slope. The story is from the Schools Collection of the 1930s which is currently being transcribed at duchas.ie.

The information on the Historic Environment Viewer says this stone is 1.2m high × 0.7m wide × 0.6m thick, with a shallow depression on top. There’s a quartz stone nearby too, 0.6m high × c. 0.7m × 0.6m. And “according to local tradition the standing stone was used as a Mass Rock”. There’s a story from the Schools Collection of the 1930s transcribed at duchas.ie:

It is a large stone standing upright with a large white stone to the Moville side.
One side of the stone has mouldered away with the storm.
The owner of the field was asked to remove the stone but he objected. He said his mother told him not to remove it for any quantity of gold or silver. The stone has been there for thousands of years and the story has been handed down from sire to son. It has been called from the beginning of time “the standing stone” or “the fairy grove.”
It is about four feet high and two feet broad.

It is said that some of the older people who are not alive nowadays, saw a fairy appear, and this belief still holds good to the ones who owns the fields with the stone, which it contains, and they won’t remove it.

I got this story from Michael Gillespie. He lives in Ballymacarter. He told me that his uncle told him about a giant who lived in Magilligan. He was a strong man. He was twelve foot high. He and another man were quarrying stones. This giant could lift a stone over a ton in weight. They came on a stone which was long and flat. They found some treasure under the stone. Away they went and got drunk. They began to fight about which of them could lift the stone. The giant said he would throw it to the other side of the water. He did so and it is there in Ballybrack since.

From the Schools Collection made in the 1930s, and now being digitised at duchas.ie. There is another story about the stone here...

There is a “standing stone” in Ballybrack. People of the neighbourhood say that this stone was thrown from Magilligan by a giant before he had got his breakfast. Other people say that a great warrior is buried there and that the stone was put there to mark the grave.

and here...

Stands upright out of the ground by the roadside at Ballybrack, Moville. About 4 1/2 feet high and 4 yards from the roadside. There are marks on it, some people say it is ancient writing.
Finn McCool is said to have thrown it from the other side of Lough. Another version or legend says it marks the grave of a Dane, for Danes occupied L. Foyle in their day.
It is also said that two giants were fighting, one on either side of L. Foyle, and that this stone was thrown from the Derry side and struck the Giant in the head and crushed him into the ground here.

There is a very large stone called the “Ho or Howe Stone” in a field near Balcunnin cross roads. One going along the main road from Lusk to Skerries can view the “Ho stone” in the field on the right hand side of the road. It is only a distance of twenty yards from the Balcunnin Cross Roads. It is about five feet in height and must weigh about 3 or 4 tons in weight. There is a smaller stone near it but whether this was broken from the original stone would be difficult to state. The “Ho stone” resembles Cromlech stones which are to be seen in many parts of Ireland but there is no visible inscription on it.

Some say that it was part of Baldungan Castle that was destroyed in the rebellion of war but this would belie the suggestion that castle was destroyed by Cromwell from the sea and it is situated on the same road as Cromwell’s Bush. If Cromwell destroyed Baldungan Castle from Loughshinny by cannon fire it is very unlikely that a mass of stone weighing some tons could be blown for such a distance as it lies almost a half mile from the site of the castle.

Local tradition states that it covers the entrance to a cave or a passage which leads to Baldungan Castle but no effort has ever been made to prove this assertion. The defenders of the Castle are supposed to have retreated into this passage with their valuables and when the Castle was levelled the passage is supposed to have caved in on them. There seems to be no entrance from Baldungan Castle at present to this supposed passage but the entrance may have been choked by falling debris which still remains concealing the entrance.

No no don’t overthink the folklore please, you’re trying to hard to make it make sense. It’s not necessary. A story in the 1930s Schools Collection which is now being digitised at duchas.ie.

The note on the Historic Environment Viewer map claims there’s no trace of this stone now. But it’s a forested boggy area... can we hope it’s just slipped out of view?

Long ago when Fionn Mc Cool and his companions were hunting the wild deer in Connacht they came to a little house which was built under the shadow of a high cliff. Being tired and hungry they thought they would get something to eat in it. Upon knocking at the door it was opened by an old woman who inquired what they wanted. Upon learning that they were hungry and thirsty she invited them inside and set a fine meal before them. When they had eaten and drunk their fill they returned out again. Great was their surprise to find another group of warriors sitting on the green outside the house. Fionn recognised their leader as his old enemy Goll Mac Morna. At this time there was a truce between them. Both companies saluted one another cordially enough. After they had conversed a while they began some games. Everything went on well for a while.

Now it happened there was a huge stone near by and this stone was supposed to cover the entrance to a fairy dwelling. Goll challenged Fionn to lift the stone from the entrance. Fionn was loth to do so for as we knew he was tired of the chase before hand. This only caused Goll and his companions to laugh and they taunted Fionn saying that he was not able to perform this feat. This enraged Fionn who started up and getting a good hold of the stone tried to enforce it out of its place. He found to his sorrow he was unable to do so. This made Goll and his friends laugh and you may be sure that this did not please Fionn and his heroes.

A battle between the two parties was imminent when the old woman came out of the house and reproached them with causing her so much annoyance. When they told her of the challenge and how Fionn had failed she went into the house again. She came out in a few minutes carrying a ripe yellow apple which she handed to Fionn, telling him at the same time to eat half of it and throw the other half over his left shoulder. When he had done this she told him to lift the stone now. Going over to sit the second time he caught hold of it and with one mighty heave pulled the stone from its bed. All who witnessed this mighty feat were amazed. Then lifting it over his head he gave it a mighty cast over the sea. The stone kept on flying in the air and at last it fell on the top of a hill near the town now known as Killybegs.

It bears the tracks of Fionn’s fingers even to this day and ever since it has been called Fionn’s Finger Stone. It is said that when a person goes up on top of the stone he would feel as if he were sailing through the air.

From the 1930s Schools Collection, now being digitised at duchas.ie.

According to Prehistoric Waterford this is the stone known as the “High Stone”.

This stone is situated about 100 yards from Picketts Cross. Tradition says that a tailor living here was ordered by a giant to make a suit of clothes for him in a certain time. When the giant came for the clothes the tailor had not them ready, and the giant was so angry that he threw this stone at the tailor and buried him under it. The marks of the giant’s fingers are to be seen on the stone.

This story from Patrick Walshe in the 1930s is part of the Schools Collection that is presently being digitised at duchas.ie.

There are two stones known as “the standing stones” in a field about one hundred yards above the school-house.
There is a story told that one time two giants were on the top of Lough Salt hill. They thought they would try their skill and see which would throw the farther. One giant threw his stone and his stone fell into this field. The other giant threw his stone and it fell about three inches in front of the first stone.

From the Schools Collection collected in the 1930s, and now being digitised at duchas.ie.

St Columkille’s stone is near these stepping stones, but the latter are not given billing on the archaeology.ie map, and yes perhaps they’re natural. But they’re part of the story and they’re stoney and folklorish so I’m squeezing them in here. They’re at the end of Bridge Isle point. Columba and Columkille, it’s all the same by the way.

Across Gartan Lough there is a row of stones still to be seen. These are called Saint Columba’s steps. One morning as Saint Columba was putting on his boots, his enemies came and he had to run away having only one boot on. It is said that he crossed here to the other side out of his enemies’ reach.

He said that, after that a curse would rest on the man that laced one boot before he put on the other. Most people of this district try to avoid the curse by putting on both boots before lacing one.
I often heard my parents talk about this when I was quite young and I still remember it.

From the Schools Collection of the 1930s, now being digitised at duchas.ie.

There was a man one time and he had a rye-grass field in which there was a fort. He went and picked all the stones and put them into the fort. On the next night there was a lot of roaring and crying. The man got very much afraid and the next day he took out every stone that was in the fort. On that night the people of the village was out listening to the beautiful music they (fairies) were playing. When the harvest came the man was out stooking oats. It was about dusk and the fairies came out with candles to show him light. The man got afraid and ran away, but when he got up in the morning all the oats was stooked.
The people of this district are very slow to interfere with a fort in such a way as rooting or cutting bushes.

From the Schools Collection of the 1930s, now being digitised at duchas.ie.

There is a fort in Knoxes field Rathfran. It is said that if you go out after twelve o’clock at night and pass that fort you will hear dogs barking and children crying. That field is called the fort field.

From the Schools Collection made in the 1930s, and now being digitised at duchas.ie.

There are a lot of Stones in this village. There are some in John Langans field. Breastagh. There is one big stone in the field. It is said that it is a tomb stone over a grave.
People come there every year from far away. Some people that come there cry. That that stone marks the grave of “Gabra son of Awley” It is written on the side of the stone in Ogham. It is said that there is as much of the stone under the ground as there is over it. Because the earth is growing every year. There are other stones in that field besides that one. Some people said that the Pagans used them for altars long ago. Other people say that they are tomb stones.

Doubtless the other stones are those of the Breastagh wedge tomb. You can see the Ogham very clearly in this photo from the National Library of Ireland. Story from the Schools Collection of the 1930s, now being digitised at duchas.ie.

There are a few old stones around this place. They are standing up straight. They are long. One of the stones is in Tommy Gilmartins field. There is another stone in Currower. It is in Martin Mullen’s land. There is another one in Carracrum. It is in John Crean’s land.
There is writing on the one in Martin Mullen’s field. Nobody around here can read it. It is a kind of writing that was in it long ago. It is called “Ogham”. People say that there is music in it. It rattles when it is struck.

The stone that is in Tommy Gilmartin’s field is ten feet long, two feet wide and one foot ten inches thick. I wasn’t at the other two at all. There is another one in Carralavin. The old people have a name for those old stones. They call them “spílés”.

You would think that these old stones come from Foxford and go down towards Sligo. People say that there were giants long ago who were building a big castle for the king. Before they landed at the place they heard the king was dead. They dropped the stones down at the spot they were at and they are standing there since.

Others say that these stones were set up as pagan gods. The pagans used to adore them.
There is another stone in Johnny Igoe’s field. It is not very big. About six feet away from it there is another small one. They say that there was a giant buried there.

These old stones are not in the best land. The stone that is in Tommy Gilmartin’s field is in the worst of his land. The others are in bad land too.

I’m guessing this is the stone on Tommy Gilmartin’s land, as it’s near an ogham stone. I love that people say the Ogham has music in it. And that a tentative connection is made between the stones and poor land (though I’d imagine that’s actually because poor land is less likely to get ploughed up). Stories from the 1930s School Collection, now being digitised at duchas.ie.

I know, I know, “sacred well” and all that disputed antiquity business. But let me have this one, it comes with its own stone. I can’t see the stone on the map, but surely it’s still there? Imagine how much fun it would be if they were cupmarks. There’s an ogham stone in the neighbouring graveyard. But from the description it can’t be that.

There is a stone lying down flat in Kilgarvin. It is opposite St Brians Well. There are marks on this stone. They are supposed to be the tracks of the hands and feet of St Brian.
The stone is four feet long and two and a half feet wide. It is about fifteen yards from the nearest point of the graveyard. It is ten yards from the well.

From the Schools collection of the 1930s, currently being digitised at duchas.ie.

There is a big standing stone in a field owned by Martin Moran of Caralavin. There is no writing on it.
There is another stone in a field now owned by Thomas Gilmartin of Carracrum. It is sloped a little to one side. This is the stone that gave Carracrum its name.
There are two standing stones like those I have already mention in Cara. Some years ago one of them fell but the people decided to put it up again. It took thirty men to put it up.
Another stone stands in a field owned by Patrick McAndrew of Caracrum. There is no writing on any of these stones.
There is ogham writing on a stone in Carower however. Once some people started digging under this stone for gold. They were not long digging when they saw that the stone was about to fall. When they saw this they ran away.
There are some small stones in a field owned by Thomas Judge of Carrowreagh.
All those stones were supposed to be brought by giants once to build a castle for a king. As they were coming they heard that the king was dead. They then dropped the stones. This accounts for the number of stones in this district.

From the Schools Collection of the 1930s, now being digitised at duchas.ie.

There is a cromlech at Knockeen which consists of eight large stones. The largest stone weighs four tons. There are six supporting stones and two covering stones. Some people call it the “Druid’s Altar”. It is said that the women carried the stones in their aprons to make the cromlech. Some people say that a giant who was passing by one day took a bite out of Sugarloaf Hill, and the cromlech is made of the crumbs he dropped.

From the Schools Collection made in the 1930s, and now being digitised at duchas.ie.

There are three raths in Brownhall – maybe this is the one discussed, maybe it isn’t (but it looks quite visible on the aerial photo so will be there if you visit it). Perhaps they’re all connected up anyway...

There are several forts in the District. There is one in Brownhall, one in Rathduff and one in Loona. They are sometimes called dúns. There is a distance of about two miles between each fort.
In the Brownhall fort the ground is raised about twenty feet, the sides of it are very straight and hard to climb. It is circular on the top and surrounded by two rows of trees. In the centre is a square opening at the head of which is a small tree.
A few years ago a cow got lost, the people searched around without success. She was found dead in the fort. This roused their interest and a man went down in it. About a mile down the passage it is slightly blocked. There is a fort in Prizon and another in Brize. They are connected with Brownhall.
In years gone by there was a Danish fortress about a mile and a half from Brownhall. The Brownhall fort was used as an escape from the fortress when it was attacked by the Irish. They were also used for sending secret messages and for hiding in. I was down in it myself and the workmanship is perfect. About every five yards down the passage, there is a hole in the roof to let light and air in. There are three rooms in it with a small opening into each one.
There is a legend saying that “a Dane who rode a white horse is supposed to have hidden there, but, he was caught and killed. After his death he was supposed to ride around the fort every night.
Music is supposed to be heard in it on Danish feasts. Lights are supposed to be seen there but it was afterwards proved that it was the glow-worm.
The grounds around the Rathduff fort are about thirty feet high and the floor is very wide. It is fixed with grass sods and it is circular in shape. There are big trees growing around it. There is an entrance in the middle with three steps on the brink.
The fairy people are supposed to have lived in them. A great many people have seen lights in them and wild cats also. The owners of the land never touched the forts when ploughing or sowing crops.
After the de Dannans were beaten at the battle of Moytura, they went into the caves and the forts and the mountains. These people are supposed to be the fairies who lived under the grounds.
The Loona fort is similar to the Brownhall fort.

From the Schools Collection of the 1930s, currently being digitised at duchas.ie.

Let us hear no more of this glow-worm heresy.

There is a liss in Mr. G. Coghlan’s land in the townland of Ballynaraha, Lismore, Co. Waterford. There is another in Mr O’Donnells land in the townland of Deerpark, Lismore, Co. Waterford. Both lisses are in view of one another.
There is an archway in the front with a fence all around partly built of stones. The entrance is closed; no one ever explored them.
A large quantity of tobacco and some gold was found in Deerpark liss. The Danes built the lisses for hiding places; they had them for escapes during the war. The Danes had the lisses first and then it was thought the fairies were there.
It was thought Mr Coghlan ploughed the field that the liss was in, and all the cattle that were in the field died, and all crops failed until he turned back the sods again, and from that day no cattle died. Music was heard from the liss and you could hear the fairies kicking the football.

From the Schools Collection which is currently being digitised at duchas.ie.

In a field in Deerpark, Lismore, Co. Waterford there is a Fairy Fort, and about a mile away from it, there is another. It is said that there is an underground tunnel running between them. Around one there is a fence of earth and stones and a gap left for an entrance. Nobody ever went in to explore it. The fence of the other fort was knocked down and ever since, whatever crop is planted in the field nothing grows where the fence was. It is said that music was heard and lights were seen in the forts. Wild cats were also seen in their neighbourhood.

Another fort was situated on Camphurie Hill on the farm of Michael O’Donnell but it was rooted some time ago.

It is said that forts were built by the fairies who lived in them. Fairies were very small people who carried purses, each of which when opened would contain a shilling. A man once saw a fairy and asked him for his purse. The fairy asked what the man behind him wanted. On turning the foolish man saw nobody but when he turned to the fairy he had disappeared.

From the Schools Collection of the 1930s, currently being digitised at duchas.ie.

There is a fort in the townland of Lisnolan. It is surrounded by a high bank. In the middle of the fort there is a small white-thorn bush growing and no haws ever grow on it. People say it is not a safe place to be passing at night.

One night two men were coming home from a wake and they saw a light in the fort and a lot of people walking about inside. One time the cows used to be milked in the field where this fort is. Every morning when the owner went out he used to find that the cows would give no milk. So one night himself and a few neighbours decided to watch. At three o’clock in the morning they saw a hare coming and sucking the cows. They set hounds on her but they could not catch her.

There was an old man in the village and he told them that if they got a black hound they could catch her. This was done and again they watched. When the hare came they set the hound on her and he caught her by the tail and bit it off. When the man came he found a old woman sitting under the bush and her crying. They asked her why she was crying and she said she was afraid of his hound and then she disappeared through the bushes. Ever afterwards the cows gave the usual supply of milk.

From the Schools Collection made in the 1930s, and currently being digitised at duchas.ie.

Cathair Pheatar is a cave in the townland of Ballymagibbon. There is an entrance into it like a doorway with a few steps down. About thirty years ago boys used to go down into it with a lighted candle, they were afraid to go down far for fear the candle would quench. It has a wall on each side about six feet high. The tunnel is leading to Moytura House. In the year 1865 there was noise heard there laying a table with forks and knives. Lights were seen at the mouth of it by local people.

From the Schools Collection made in the 1930s, and now part of the National Folklore Collection being digitised at duchas.ie.

This is indeed about a mile south of Manorhamilton. So I hope it is the place, the scene of a tough cock-fighting frog.

About one mile south of Manorhamilton is a bog called the Stone Pound. In it is a very large Giants grave. It is said that there are crocks of gold buried there and it belonged to the Giant. There is a frog minding it. One time a man brought a black cock and if he killed the frog he would get the gold. He brought the cock and set him fighting with the frog but the cock was not able to beat him. Another man brought a cock but the cock was unable to beat the frog. So the gold is said to be still there and the frog is still there minding it until the present day.

From the Schools Collection made in the 1930s for the National Folklore Collection, and currently being digitised on duchas.ie.

The Giants Grave is situated in the Deerpark. There are three departments in it. Some say that Giants were buried there and that it got its name from them. Others say that Owen Bell was buried there and others say it was a Druid’s Altar.

There are a number of big stones there and there is a lovely view from it.

It was more like a big grave in olden time than it is at present. There is an old story told of the grave by an old man who lived in Chapel Town near Cnoc Mór, a hill near Colga lake. He told that the giant stood on the middle of this hill to consider where he should have his grave. He looked towards the sunrise and said he would have it in that direction. He walked to the Deerpark and dug his grave there. He found his health failing. He remained in the Deerpark and lay in his grave every night. One night he died in it. It is not known how he was covered but it was well done.

From the Schools Collection of the 1930s, currently being digitised at duchas.ie. I like that other features of the landscape and the direction of the sunrise should be part of the story. Was Owen Bell one of the kings of Connacht? Mere googling is not telling me much.

In the townland of Lislary there is a fairy fort. When you enter it you can go half mile to your right and the same to your left. There is a tunnel in this fort; it was well built. On each side and overhead there are heavy stone flags. It is six feet high and there are hob holes on each side in the walls. It is on a hill in the middle of a field. Lights were seen several times in this fort, they are not stationary but keep travelling. Big black cats, large as dogs are often seen there.
The owner lives a quarter of a mile from it. One time he was building walls so he took stones from the forth. He got sick and had to remain six weeks in bed. The stones were found to be the cause of his illness, so when they were returned he arose at once.

My favourites, the anomalous big cats. This is near the sea and I bet it’s a great spot.
The story is from the Schools’ Collection of the National Folklore Collection, and was written down in the 1930s.

Between Colloney and Ballymote there is a townland called Carrick-Banagher. In it there is a fort which belongs to the fairies. Cashel it is called. Many people say they have seen lights there, travelling around. It resembles a candle placed on a pole which was carried around by a man. The light appears about twelve, and continues to one o’clock. If a person in the district is ill, beautiful music is heard if the person is going to die. This music can be heard quite plainly five miles away.

From the 1930s Schools Collection of the National Folklore Collection, now being digitised at duchas.ie.

Surely this impressive structure has to be the location for this extensive amount of folklore. It’s on top of a knoll and surrounded by trees, so this also matches the description. But please dispute this if you know better. The stories were written down as part of the Schools Collection of the 1930s (a project to digitise them is currently in progress at duchas.ie).

In the townland of Clogher there is a fairy fort. This fort, which is situated on a little mound, is circular in shape and is almost entirely surrounded by trees. Close to the fort is a by-road. Tradition tells us that many strange sights have been seen around this spot.

Some years ago some of the neighbouring children were passing by and to their astonishment they heard music, singing, laughter and ringing of bells. The children were horror stricken as they had often heard that the place was haunted with fairies and in amazement they turned towards the fort and there beheld a large crowd of what they thought were children. These were dressed in the most beautiful shades and colours and they formed a circle around the fort. The children now became terrified and grasping hold of each other they sat down on the fence as they could not seem to know where they were. The music still continued to ring in their ears and the laughter and talk which they could not understand also continued. After a time a bell rang, the music stopped, the fairies disappeared and everything was left unchanged and the children returned home to relate to their parents all that had happened. The parents on hearing the children describe the little folk whom they had seen informed them that these were fairies.

Another traditional story tells us of a neighbouring man who was one night returning home from visiting and he crossed the hill known as “Mullach na leice” wherein it is supposed there is a valuable treasure secluded. On hearing very loud talk he turned around but could perceive nothing. He continued on his journey but had scarcely taken a few paces until his path became remarkably bright and on gazing around he saw about twenty or twenty-five very luminous lights which soon passed by with great rapidity. He watched these lights with much interest until in a few moments they had reached the spot where the fort is and there they disappeared.

The lane, which passes by this fort, is usually avoided especially after night-fall although it is a short-cut on several occasions.
People passing by often remark that even on a summer’s day when everything is calm and still that a whirl-wind rises and blows papers, straws or any other things, which are scattered around, up into the air where they remain tossing about for some time. When this occurs, if old people witness it, they make the sign of the cross or throw something in the direction the dust is moving.

When a death is about to occur in the neighbourhood it is remarkable that on many occasions a cry and a little light is to be seen moving around this fort.

The fort is never interfered with when the owner of the field is ploughing or doing any other form of cultivation as it is supposed that it is unlucky to interfere with such places.

There are a few raths in Sroove, but this is the only one I see with an en-suite Souterrain, according to the Historic Environment Viewer map.

In the townland of Shroofe there is to be found a fort of immense size. It is owned by Patrick Finan. It is circular in shape and has a stone fence around it. Many interesting stories are told about this fort.
In the centre there is to be found an entrance consisting of stone stairs leading down to a room made of stone. This room is about six feet from the surface.
In 1916 any of the Irish Youths hid in this room from enemies who were called “the Black and Tans.”
When deaths occurred in this district of Shroofe lights were to be noticed in and around the fort.
Many people say that the fairies sing with great joy when a couple gets married. Others say the fairies chant “The Dead March” when a funeral is taking place.
It is told by ancient people that a number of them have discovered a “Black Cat” on guard in the entrance under ground, during the night.
The owner of the land never interferes with this fort, because tradition tells us that the crops sown by any man who interferes with this fort, will not bear good fruit but will fail and that he, in a year or less, will find himself failing.

It is true that a man of the name Terence Mac Dermot interfered with this fort by cutting one of the trees which was growing beside the entrance and he died on the anniversary of the day.
During the Xmas season people say that the fairies are heard churning. They say that by doing this they help to provide food for the Infant Jesus.
There is a spring well beside this fort and its waters are never used for tea because old people tell us that this water would never boil.

I like the mention of black cats, I wonder if this is a fierce moggy or an early sighting of my favourite, the Anomalous Big Cat? They’re clearly not to be messed with, whichever. Also I do find it amazing how many stories can be associated with a single location in Ireland – where else could you get themes relating to fairies, Jesus, cats, unboilable water and handy hiding places, all in one spot?This story is part of the folklore collected by the Schools Collection in the 1930s, and now being digitised at duchas.ie.

So many raths. But this one’s stoney and could be the right one for the story. I like the way the story was up to date at the time of writing (the 1930s) and features named people and contemporary events.

After the Ambush near Cliffoney in October 1920, the Black and Tans burned to the ground a house in Cliffony owned by a family named McCannon. The father and a son were arrested and lodged in Derry Gaol and three other sons had to go “on the run”. They were all prominent Sinn Feiners. One of the sons, D[?] McCannon, who did not take any part in the movement was not molested. The mother and he went to live in a cottage in the townland of Ballinphull, near the village of Cliffoney.

Their former residence which was destroyed by the Tans was in the townland of Cartron. Their land, which comprised a few fields lay to the rear of their dwelling home. The entrance to their new home in the cottage was a very soft and boggy path. The boys who were [?] used often at dead of night and in terror of their lives come back to visit their mother and brother.
The Tans were active and paid many a visit to the cottage.

D[?] McCannon decided to make a rough path to his cottage so that no boot tracks could be seen, and in this way give no clue to the Tans as to the visits of the boys. Helped by his uncle, Pat Clancy, he removed some stones from an old fort on his land at Cartron, broke them up and so made a good solid path to his house. The day after the work was completed, D[?] had to go to a fair. It would necessitate his being away two nights to get his business done. The first night the mother was all alone and an uneasy night she spent.

About midnight she heard a terrible noise around the house. An argument appeared to be going on. Thinking it was the boys who had some trouble among themselves she did not open the door for a considerable time. Then anxious to know what was happening and wondering why they did not knock she opened the door and went outside when to her amazement no person could be seen. Returning to the house she went to bed, but did not sleep that night.

Next day she informed her brother Pat Clancy. He said he would keep her company that night. He did so and such a night. The running of people around the house – the arguments – the shouting and screeching of people, as they thought, were terrible to listen to. Pat Clancy ordered his nephew D[?] Mc Cannon, who returned from the fair the following day, to leave the stones, although now broken up into small pieces, back at the old fort again. D[?] gathered up all the pieces of broken stone, and carted them back to the fort.

From that time forth, Mrs McCannon and her son had no more trouble, except visits from Black and Tans.

From the Schools Collection, currently being digitised at Duchas.ie.

But then again, there’s another story about the McCannon family – they must have been daring or daft to try stealing the stones twice. This was before their house burnt down and they had to move. I can’t help thinking that cows are probably stubborn animals – how lethargic were they really?

In the year 1917, the MrCannon family were building a byre at the rear of their dwelling house. Building stones were very scarce at that place, and it was necessary for them to take stones from the fort.

It was in the month of May and as the weather was good, the cows were out at night. D[?] Mc Cannon proceeded to the field to milk the cows and was surprised to find all four lying down.
He tried by every means in his power to get them to stand but without avail. Going back to the house he informed his brothers who in turn acquainted the neighbours. They all proceeded to the field again and tried to force the cows to get up, but as before it was unavailing.

An elderly man amongst them who knew that they had taken stones from the fort said “Boys, leave back those stones, you took from the fort yesterday.” The stones were carted back to the fort the following day, and in the evening the cows were on their feet, and gave their milk as usual, and were as healthy as ever.

From the document here.

This fort is in the area marked ‘Greyfort’ on the 6” map, so I imagine it’s the one in question. It’s interesting to see that Christian priests are not immune from the weirdness (fairies are not mentioned by name but are surely implied).The stories are told by Nuala O Donnell as part of the Schools Collection of Irish folklore in the 1930s. The collection is being digitised at duchas.ie.

There are a number of forts situated in this locality, but the most convenient one to my home is situated in the townland of Greyfort. It is called a “rath”. Old people say that the priest’s residence which is in the same townland, is erected on a fort.

There are a few peculiar stories attached to this fort. At the present time people are advised not to interfere with a fort. Some people abide by this advice, but others do not. One time a man went into the fort to cut some bushes. Another man on seeing his foolishness, begged of him not to interfere with the bushes, bu the man being self-willed continued his work, with the result that he got a thorn in his finger, which he never succeeded in getting out. He got every cure available, but they were all unsuccessful, and he died within four days.

We are also told another story of a priest who put his horse grazing in the ring of the fort. After some time he sent his attendant out for him, ordering him to put the animal into the stable, and the servant obeyed the order. The horse vanished, and the servant after spending hours searching for him, went and informed the priest what had occurred. He was very angry, and he said whoever performed the act would not benefit by it. This came to pass because the man who interfered with the horse died, and his son who was a student in college left it, and he never procured a position.

There is another story connected with this fort. One time a man got married, and that night he and his wife were standing at the door, when a number of horsemen came out of the fort. The man in fun said “take this woman with ye” and immediately she vanished. He was stunned by the thought of his wife’s being gone but later, to his great astonishment he saw her riding a beautiful horse. She had a knife in her hand and she said to her husband, “if you give me a stroke of this knife you can have me” but the man fearing to do this allowed her to go, but she never returned again. Lights were to be seen in this fort long ago.

Maybe this is Johnny Walsh’s fort. Or if not, it’s certainly nearby. This is a story from the Schools Collection of the National Folklore Collection. The documents from the 1930s are being digitised at duchas.ie.

There are a number of forts in this locality and some of them are Johnny Walsh’s fort, John Dwyer’s fort, Mick Murren’s, and the one in the castle field. These forts were built in the time of the Finbolg, and they used them to preserve their houses from the wild animals and from their enemies.

Johnny Walsh’s fort is situated about half a mile from the school. It is circular in shape, and for this reason also it is called a ring. There is a fence around it, and there is also a plantation of trees around it. There are a number of old stories attached to it. It is said that there was a man ploughing in the field, and that he went to plough the fort also, but the fort opened up and swallowed the plough and horses. There is an entrance hole to it, and two fishing rods would not reach to the end of it.

One night as two young men were coming home from a neighbours house, they saw a funeral coming from the fort, and as it was the custom of that time, that anyone who met a funeral should go back a few yards with it. The two young men decided to go back a small piece with the funeral. As they were going along, they took the coffin to carry it, but as soon as they took it the funeral went away, and the two young men were left to carry the coffin. At first they did not know what to do, but after some time they decided to bring it to their house. When they reached the house they opened the coffin, and they found a live girl inside it. They asked her who she was, but she did not know, so they kept her in the house.

Sometime afterwards the man of the house went to the fair to buy a cow. He bought the cow, and that man told him how his daughter was taken away by the fairies, and so it happened that the girl who was taken out of the coffin belonged to the man who sold the cow.

There were also a number of wild animals seen in the vicinity of the fort. The old people tell us that it’s not lucky to interfere with the forts, as they belong to the fairies.

Here’s another story about the raths in Cloghoge Upper:

The nearest fort to my home is situated in Mc Gaughan’s field. It is called a liss. It is circular in shape. There is a cave in this fort, and sometimes people have gone down and explored it. It is said that it was the Tuatha De Dannans that made it. If anyone interfered with the fort, it is said that they would die before that day twelve months. One day two men began to plough up the field. As soon as they began to dig up the ground, the horses fell dead. They got frightened as soon as they saw what had happened. They ran round and told all the neighbours what had happened. They then promised that from that day forward, they never would interfere with a fort again. As soon as they said these words, the horses got up and began to walk about.
There is another story connected with this fort. One day a man went out hunting and had not gone far, when he saw a rabbit sitting in a fort. He fired a shot, and hit him on the leg. On the minute the rabbit was changed into a woman. She began to run towards the nearest house to her. When she arrived at the house, she jumped in on the window. The man followed her as far as the house, and when he looked in on the window, he saw her spinning wool.

Every night between twelve and two o’clock, the rattling of chains is to be heard. There is singing also heard in it.

There are several raths in Cloghoge, but this might be the right one for the story! It certainly has earthen banks.

The nearest fairy fort to my home is situated on Brian Healy’s land in Cloghogue. It is circular in shape and there is an earthen fence around it. One evening a man named Brian was passing by this fort with a cow when two horsemen rode up to him and asked him if he was a cow doctor. The man answered, and said he was. They asked then would he come and see a sick cow which they had. The man answered and said he would, when he had the cow tied. The men thanked him, and said they would wait there until he would come back. When Brian came back they had a horse ready for him. He mounted the horse and they rode away. After a long ride, they came to a two storey barn. The men brought him into the second storey of the barn. There was dancing going on underneath.
There was a small hole in the floor through which a light rod could go. One of the men that was with Brian put a rod through the hole and touched one of the girls that was dancing with it on the nose. The girl sneezed but no one said ‘God bless us’. The man touched her three times with the rod, and she sneezed each time. The third time Brian said ‘God bless us’ when no other one would say it. Immediately, the light went out, and Brian was left in the dark by himself.
The next morning, Brian left the barn and went into the house nearest to him. The man of the house told him he was a long way from home. He then gave him food that would do him on his journey.

I like the sense of bewilderment and non-resolution. This is from the Schools Collection which was made in the 1930s, and which is now being digitised at duchas.ie.

There are three raths in this area, but this one seems to be the best preserved, judging from the aerial photographs. Perhaps it’s this one that’s the source of this story in the Schools Collection (written in the 1930s, now being digitised at duchas.ie).

There is a fort situated about one mile from the village of Ballylongford in the townland of Ballyline, in the land which now belongs to Patrick Diggins. It is round in shape and is surrounded by trees.
John Diggins had a man employed to knock the fort. The servant went to the Priest to ask if he could knock the fort, and the Priest told him that if he got any other work to do not to mind the fort. He told this to his master and the master himself went to knock it. He got a stroke of a branch into the eye and he lost the sight of that eye. He went at it again and cut the trees and ploughed the fort and set corn in it, and after twelve months, the fort grew up again.

And here’s another. It’s perhaps more frightening but the protagonist doesn’t seem too bothered.

There is a fort in the townland of Ballyline in the land of Mr. Patrick Lavery about two miles from Ballylongford. This fort is circular in shape and it is surrounded by white thorn and black thorn bushes. There is a gap in it and there is a path near it.
One night there was a man from Ballyline named John O’Brien going home and he heard great noise in the fort. He looked in and he saw a great crowd of men inside sitting at a table on which there were plenty eatables and drinkables. One of the men invited him in, and he went and had a good time. He recognised a few of the men that were dead for years. Towards morning the crowd disappeared and the man went home after a good night.

The information on the Historic Environment Viewer says this rath is on high ground which ‘presents an excellent view of the surrounding countryside’, how lovely. Its story (which mixes various folklore themes) comes from the Schools Collection of the National Folklore Collection, written down in the 1930s, and currently being digitised at duchas.ie.

There is a fort in the townland of Ahanagran in the land of Thomas Fimertry. Every day there was a hare seen in this fort. This hare had only one ear.

One morning a number of men decided that they would kill the hare. They set off for the fort with a number of dogs. When they reached the fort, they saw the hare, but any one of the dogs would not touch him. Then the men followed the hare themselves, until they reached the bottom of the third field from the fort. All at once, a big hole opened in the ground and the hare went in.

The men followed the hare, but when they reached the bottom of the hole, to their surprise, instead of a hare being there they saw an old woman. They asked her if she saw any hare, but no sooner had they said it than the old woman disappeared. Then the men came up again, and the hole closed, but the hare was never again seen.

There are two fairy forts in the district. One of them is situated in the town land of Dromore and the other in Lisacarn. They are all in view of other. They are round in shape and with a fence of bushes around them and a big mound of earth. There is a large hole in the middle of the forth which is situated in Dromore. In the hole there are two large stones. It is said that there is a crock of gold underneath them. And it is also said that before the gold is got that there are three lives to be lost at it. It is said that there is a cat in the fort minding the crock of gold.

There is a story told about this fort. There was a man and he dreamed three nights after other that there was money in the fort and if he went and dug and it, he would get the money and he dreamed that there would be three lives lost at it, so he went to the fort and brought a dog with him. When he started to dig around the stones a little white bird came and lit on the stone beside him. After a while his dog died. Then he got afraid and ran home to his house.

It is said that the Danes built these forts to save themselves from the wild animals. In olden times fairies used to live in them. The owner of the land never interferes with the fort. Some people say that long ago there used to be lights seen at it and there used to be music and churning heard at night.

A tale from the Schools Collection, which was made in the 1930s for the National Folklore Collection (and which is now being digitised at duchas.ie).

Forts are places where Fairies live. There is a lot of Forts in the surrounding district. There is one in Lisacarn, Dromore, and Kilthyhugh. They are all in view of each other.
I know a man who got a walk out of the one in Kilthyhugh. One night he was late coming out of town. It was 12 pm when he came into the house. He got a bag and went over to a neighbour’s house for turf. He went over safely and the man of the house gave him the turf. The man told him to mind the Fort and not walk into it. The man did not know the place very well because he was only a new comer to the place and his house was in front of the fort. The man put the bag of turf on his back. After leaving the man he walked headlong into the fort. He was thrown out of the fort again and the Fairies walked him through the fields and every ditch he came to both him and the bag of turf were thrown across. When he had come through a number of fields, he came to a very wide river and he was thrown across that too. He never found till he was in Oughteraugh. Then he was turned there again and he was put back through the fields again and he was just passing it again when his wife came to the door and said “is that you Martin”. Only for she came to the door would [he] be put back into the fort again. When he went into the house he was all bleeding and his clothes all torn and he was not able to get up for five days after.

A story from the Schools Collection, made in the 1930s by the National Folklore collection (and currently being digitised at duchas.ie).

On the farm of Mrs Creamer, Druminalass, stands an old fort which is of a round shape. It is about four feet higher than the land around it. It is enclosed by a thick clay ditch in which stout trees are growing. I was told by John Mc Weeny, aged 80, that an old man named Hugh Loughlin of Lurgandill went to the fort one time to cut fire-wood. He climbed up one of the trees to cut some of the branches with a hatchet. When he had a few branches cut his hatchet dropped to the ground. He looked down wondering how he would get it. To his surprise he heard a voice say “Here is your hatchet”. Then the hatchet was handed up to him. He looked but could see no person. This man got so frightened that he never again went to the fort to cut wood.

A tale from the Schools Collection made by the National Folklore Collection in the 1930s. The documents are currently being digitised at duchas.ie.

In the townland next to us which is called Gortnatresk, two men were making a mearing fence between their two farms. The fence had to be up a steep hill. The men worked very hard and were glad to see their work completed one day by quitting time, but next morning to their great surprise their fence had been levelled down just about 100 yards from the top of the hill in length. They started to work again and made up their fence and on the following morning the same thing happened. The third time they set out to work again and finished their mearing, and they were astonished to see their work useless and going to the place they looked all round them and just remarked a little ditch in the spot just in a circle with bushes all round. Inside the grass was very green. The men said to each other, there must be something in this spot. We will just make the fence round it and leave this in one man’s farm. This they did and there it remains for anyone to see it. It is believed to be a fairy palace and people of the District say that when passing the road late at night which is about a quarter of a mile from the road they often hear great music and see the fairies dressed in white dancing and enjoying themselves.

A tale in the Schools Collection, made by the National Folklore Collection of Ireland in the 1930s (and currently being digitised at duchas.ie).

There is a fairy forth in the town-land of Derryhallow. It is about a mile from the town of Drumshanbo and a half mile from the school. The name of the forth is Cruckawn. It is situated a long the side of the road leading to Slieve An Iarainn mountain. The forth is on a high mound over grown by white thorn bushes and it is surrounded by a low grassy ditch. Many stories are told in connection with this forth but I only heard a few of them.

There was once a man who was fencing and he cut a bush in the forth and put it in a gap. On his way home he felt his eye getting very sore. When he arrived home his eye was still worse. Doctors were attending him for some time but they could not give him any cure. Finally he went to the priest the priest looked in his eye but he could not see anything in it. Thenhe asked him did he do any work that would harm his eye. The man said he cut a bush in the forth and put it in a gap. The priest told him to go at once to the forth and put the bush where he got it. The man did so and on his way home he took the patch off his eye and it was as good as it had ever beed before. Another story is told about this forth.

Once a man was taking a bag of turf from beside the forth. When he was ready to go home with the turf a voice cried out to him “Leave down them turf. The man looked a round him but he could not see anyone. Then he proceeded on his way, but to his surprise the bag of turf was taken off his back. He told the story when he went home. Next morning his brother went to the forth for the turf but to his surprise he found the bag emptied on the top of a ditch.

There is a story told about Mr Booth the owner of the land surrounding the forth. One evening he went for his eight cows to bring them home to be milked but he only could get seven cows. He searched the land untill night fall but could not find her and then he went home. Next morning he came down the land to look for the cow again. He was attracted by great singing in the forth and he went in to it, and there stood the cow chewing her cud. He brought her home to milk her. The wife began to milk her but she had not a drop.

From the Schools Collection, made by the National Folklore Collection in the 1930s and currently being digitised at duchas.ie.

Here’s another story about the same place:

On the farm of Thomas Boothe Derryhallow a fort stood. This man was one harvest day preparing hay for tramping very close to a fort. When ready to make into rooks there came a blast of wind and lifted the hay up into the air and carried it away to another fort.
When out spoke Boothe into the fort, “Come my fairy Queen” and bring back my hay. After a couple of hours manouvering in the air the hay was lift back in its original position.

I think there’s at least one more pair of souterrain+fort in Meenymore other than this one, so the folklore could refer to any of them. But I have added this one as it remains unplanted amongst the coniferous wood and might be more accessible.

There is an old fairy fort in the townland of Slievenard. There are lights seen at it often. One night people were coming home from a bottle drink in Pat McPartlins and they saw three little fairies outside of it dancing and singing for all they were worth. They were dressed in different colours. The people went down to see would they catch them but when they went to the place they were gone.
Another day two men went to cut bushes in it for fire wood but when they were cutting the bushes they heard several little voices saying leave them alone or ye will die and they left them alone and no one went near them since.

From an entry in the 1930s Schools Collection, which was made by the National Folklore Collection in the 1930s.

I might be wrong but it doesn’t seem unreasonable to think these stones could be the Fairy Chairs. Standing stones aren’t unreasonable places to want to sit.

There is a place in the townland of Ballymagaraghy, in the parish of Culdaff, known as the Fairy Chairs. A man from Ballymagaraghy was watching cattle grazing around this place. All of a sudden a flint stone was fired at one of the cows. She got very sick and the owner had to send for a vet, and he said she was shot by one of the fairies. He gave her gunpowder with an egg mixed through it and she was well in a few days.

As told in the Schools Collection in the 1930s for the National Folklore Collection.