Fairy Folklore of County Clare

A short film about the survival of fairy folklore in the West of Ireland. Shortlisted for the Dingle Irish Film festival Shorts Category.

Made by Tess O'Shea.

Interviews (in order of appearance):
Bridie Morgan
Francis Whelan
Bridget Carroll

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[angelaegan]

Thank you for this. Something charming in a miserable world ❤

[Candy-jisr]

I am Welsh. One day I climbed a hill and at the top was a meadow with an ancient tree. Every 4 to 6 years these giant toadstools would grow from it's base and us locals would go to look. Well this one year I went up there to see and a tiny, not more than 1 ft being poked his head from behind the toadstool. His skin was green. His clothes were green and brown. He smiled and waved at me and then was gone like a wisp of smoke. I will never forget him. He remains with me 50 years later as a precious encounter. Faerie folk exist.

[ShoJ]

My Granny swore the fairies were real. Today it is still written into deeds of homes, that the bushes are not to be removed.

[louise]

I'm 60yrs old and Australian. I 💯 percent believe in fairies. I saw a female one in a bush in our garden about twilight when I was about 2yrs. It was summer and mum was bringing in the washing late. I was toddling around, when I saw her looking at me from behind a leaf 🍃. I remember distinctly, going a few steps and crouching on my feet, I looked at her, she looked up at me, she wasn't frightened of me, probably because of my innocence. Mum called me after a few seconds and I just toddled off. I told her, I saw a little lady in the bush, I didn't know many words at that age, and definitely hadn't heard of fairies. It was then mum told me, oh Louie, you saw the fairy. Mum was part Irish, she knew she was there all along, but never ever mentioned it, till I revealed my sighting. I will always, always know they exist. ❤❤

[bobchlarson]

I wanna sit down for tea with that old lady and just listen to her stories

[cathycs]

As 5yr old 50 years ago I peeked out the window at my nanas house at dawn and saw about 4 or 5 little people playing around her letter/milk box.
No one would believe me except my nana who said that ‘I had a touch of the Irish’. and that’s why I could see them.
I can still picture them in my mind as clear as I did that day.

[wendeone]

I am Welsh when I was about 11 years I went away with friends in the summer time, we stayed in a cottage in the middle of nowhere in Wales near Lampeter. The cottage was surrounded by a forest. I went out to get something from the car and saw very tiny people no bigger than sindy or Barbie dolls playing on the grass area near the car. They stopped and looked up at me I was more terrified of them than they were of me. I ran back into the cottage. I have never forgotten this I am now 65.

[crimson]

My grandma insisted fairies live on her farm we used to think she was crazy when she made them little furniture left them out gifts she always said they protected her, one morning at about 7 am I went to the barn to feed her pet pig, we had a barrel full of apples and I would toss him some, as I was approaching the barrel I heard something from inside, then all a sudden out scrambled a little man he had little boots, brown little trousers and a hat, he swung from the barrel, slid down and ran into a hole in the ground, I was stunned!! Even my dogs were shocked they wouldn’t leave the hole he ran into, a bit bigger then a squirrels, I will never second guess grandma ever again. And now as rich city ppl flock to her area and buy up land they have been trying to force her out and it always falls through things always go wrong for them, I really believe they protect her and her land. 🧚💗

[debleb]

Look, even if the faeries aren't real (I believe they are, though!), the fairy forts shouldn't be cut down anyway. They're still an important part of the culture and history of Ireland

[sharonmedeiros]

I used to live across the street from a little patch of woods. A screech owl lived in it, I would listen for it's call every night. Right about at dusk, little tiny lights would appear in the underbrush and bushes all along the edge of the woods. They wouldn't move around like fireflies but we're stationary, as if the fairies were lighting their lanterns with the dusk. It was wild and magical!

[siobhanboyle]

Ireland is such a beautiful magical place, my grandma from Ireland would tell me endless stories and fairytales about fairy’s, that you should always believe. To this day I am 24 and still very much believe. Most people that I know don’t and probably think I’m weird for it, but my heart and my love for anything Irish will always be in my heart.

[thevelikovskian]

I've met many people in Ireland, including young poeple, who have seen the fairies. An earlier generation took them for granted, and it's not so common now. But yes, people still do see the fairies.

[lorrettacrowley]

I have two Hawtorn( Fairy Trees) in my side garden. During a bad storm a few yrs ago another tree ( ash) lost a huge limb and I was evacuated outside to the front of my home for nearly 7 hours while two teams of Arborists ( tree surgeons) took the Enormous limb off. During conversation with the "Tree inspector" he told me that no arborist would ever fell a Hawthorn tree on account off their connection to the spiritual realm. Also travellers ( Gypsies) will not cut from a Hollywood tree untill a certain date in Nov. An Almond branch was used by Aaron in the Bible and Cedar trees/ Fig trees and Olive branches also figure prominently in the scriptures and The ancient Druids always gathered under an Oak tree. How forgetful we have become regard the Spiritual significance of the Realms hidden in plain sight

[Liudolfingen]

I was sceptical of fairies, I thought they were from times gone by. About 12 yrs. ago, my daughter and I were walking just outside my friends house, which was in the forest. It was mid summer, I heard a whiring sound, like a really fast fluttering. It just appeared, and in a few seconds disappeared. She said Mom, did you see that.?? I sure did, ... looked like if it landed in a tree, it would be very well camouflaged.
Must have been a woodlands Fairy, It looked a little scary, kind of like a larger butterfly, but thin, about 1 1/2 feet long, with lots of dangling things off it wings. Natural colors of browns.
I heard that whirring sound, twice after that. I felt it was up to no good. Felt faint.
After seeing the forest Fairie, my friend said he had seen little green fairies in his garden, but had never told anyone.
This is a true story from Ontario Canada.

[yanifree]

Once my cousin inherited the land (in County Clare) he did just that..cut down the faery fort. Shortly thereafter, his wife almost went blind and on top of that, she suffered a miscarriage. Everyone talked of it and blamed it on the cutting down of the fort. I remember that lovely mystical fort well.

[aliceberethart]

When people respect folklore the world becomes a safer place.
I didn't say believing in it, i said respect it.
It makes people take care of their surroundings and each other.
It sparks conversations.
Keeps communities together.
I don't believe in gnomes, but just in case, i continue doing the yearly tradition of placing sacrificial food in the backyard on certain occasions.
What it does for me is making me relax. It is a meditative gesture.
And a promise to not forget my ancestor's traditions.

[woodlandwarrior]

The lady saying the non believer's being more educated.. That may be true in academic terms but there are many levels of intelligence and knowledge and this lovely lady and all in the know really have the knowledge of what others don't understand or can begin to comprehend. 💚

[marcusfisher]

I'v seen one Fairy once only. I'm a securty officer at night and the the area I was in is like a park. Walking to the end of a building 5 feet off the ground. next to a pine tree hovered the fairy suprized by my presents I shined my flashlight at it and it came foward to me about 5 feet. It was the same size as a Barbi Doll, and it wore a sliver atire that exposed no outside seatures, even the face was hidden. We looked at each outher and I apologised for disturbing her. She must have felt I was no threat tured away and changed color to match the pine tree outer surface and I contunued my patrols. No I did not return that night to the same spot. This is the 1st time I reveal this. God thee father has many creations why not Fairies.

[amenmolier]

Iam from a tiny hillock village mongchen, nagaland,India.there is a place in our village where a woman returning from the fields met a group of tiny people cooking in egg shells, on asking them what they were up to they told her they were stationed there for rest and were to reach a place called orangkong that night itself, orangkong is a real place far away from our village, so from facts we can conclude they travel faster than humans

[dmacisaac]

My Grandmother taught me how to be respectful of the faeries and always carry a heel of bread ❤ my favourite book about the faeries is by Raymond E. Feist called Faerie tale, it's one that's better read during the day and if you're a true believer, it will be better than a Stephen King book ❤