Forlorn fairies find a new fortress

BY JACKIE KEOGH

FOLLOWING the summary eviction of the fairies from Rineen Woods and Beara, Inish Beg Estate, near Baltimore, has plans to provide temporary accommodation adjacent to an existing encampment of woodland fairies.

There was upset and tears from the children of Beara and Union Hall recently when Coillte made a decision to remove the little wooden homes and fairy doors from the forests, due to concerns over ‘littering’, and possible ‘injury’ from nails or screws.

However, a very small firm of architects has now been engaged to design state-of-the-art new houses for the evicted fairies so they will shortly have their own homes, near Baltimore. As soon as the new houses are completed, the accommodation will be made available to fairies that find themselves in a housing crisis, as well as any fairy refugees from foreign lands.

The fairy houses along the Pirate Trail in the gardens at Inish Beg Estate can be visited any day of the year, except on days when the fairies are helping a bride and groom with their wedding celebrations.  

To defray the costs of accommodating these woodland nymphs, there will be an admission charge – €6 for adults, but children under 12 can go free.