Sunday, 12 March 2017

Ballymunterhiggin, County Donegal

There are two fairy forts situated in the townland of Drumachrin. They are in view of each other. They are both circular in shape and around each is a fence of clay. There is an entrance hole at the side of each. One of these forts belongs to John O'Reilly. The story is told that in olden times one of this man's ancestors was passing the fort, on a moonlit night. He saw, as he thought, a crowd of ladies on horseback galloping round the fort, each one saying "and a steed for me, and a steed for me." This man entered the fort and said too "and a steed for me and a steed for me." With that he was mounted on a horse and was taken away by the fairies, and was never heard of afterwards.
People say that these forts were used as hiding places for soldiers during the time of the Danish invasion. The Bean Sidhe is still heard in one of these forts. People never interfere with these forts either to cultivate them or to cut trees or bushes on them. Through the country there are "lone bushes" or "lone trees". One never touches them. If they are cut they are supposed to bleed.

From the National Folklore Collection, UCD.

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