The magic returns as fairies are re-housed in Rineen Woods

AS if by magic, some of the fairy houses that were once thought lost have reappeared in Rineen Woods.

There were a lot of unhappy campers recently when it was discovered that 50 of the fairy houses at Rineen Woods, near Union Hall, had been reduced to just two.

The family who first reported the mass evacuation – Andy Illsley, his wife Edel, and their two children Mia (6) and Harry (4) – were horrified to see the place had been laid bare and said they weren’t inclined to return.

Andy said it was just too difficult trying to explain to his kids that the fairies had relocated, presumably because of a Government-inspired better housing programme.

But when the word went out that some of the fairies had come back, Andy and his family went down to the woods, last week, to check it out. And they are happy to report that some have, indeed, returned.

Rineen Woods is a favourite spot for family outings because of the long, safe pathways through the trees and its seaside views, but what makes it special is the location of so many fairy houses at the base of the trees.

Young children had taken to leaving mementos of their visit to Rineen, and some had even undertaken the task of creating new homes made of stone for the fairies.

Two weeks ago, in the pages of The Southern Star, Andy had complained that the magic had been taken out of the woods. Now, happily, some of that magic has returned.