On many hills and plains in the Northwest of Ireland, ancient stone ring structures still remain, which the locals believe were built by fairies.
Out of fear of upsetting the fairies, throughout history, no one has dared to touch a blade of grass or a stone. As a result, over 32,000 “fairy forts” remain intact to this day, attracting tourists to explore.
Folk Architecture
A well-preserved Fairy Fort in Northwest Ireland. (Photo: Atlasobscura.com).
Fairy Fort is the name given to the ancient circular or concentric stone architectural ruins found throughout the remote Northwest of Ireland. Most of them are covered by earth and vegetation, making them appear as mere old, crumbling stone foundations or earthen mounds.
The folklore of Ireland perceives the Fairy Forts as the dwelling places of fairies. The fairy characters in Irish folklore are mythical beings that are notoriously difficult to deal with.
They possess tremendous magical powers but only use their abilities for their own benefit. Because they love tranquility, fairies will punish anyone who disturbs or makes noise near their homes in brutal ways, such as vandalizing property, kidnapping relatives, or taking lives.
In 1930, when the most famous Irish science writer, Paddy Gannon, was still a student, he contributed a folktale related to these forts that he collected from his hometown.
The story recounts that long ago, deep in the dull town of Kilmaine, two brothers named Mooney, John and Tom, needed to build a house. While searching for a suitable location, John accidentally discovered a perfect Fairy Fort, ideal for renovation into a home.
Immediately, John called Tom over, and the two brothers began clearing the grass and trees growing inside and outside the Fairy Fort. While working, they faintly heard the sound of crying but paid no mind.
A passing priest saw them and warned the Mooney brothers not to continue. They ignored him, and within one night, both died under mysterious circumstances. Everyone believed the Mooney brothers had been punished by fairies.
“The story that Gannon collected is just one variant in the theme of Fairy Forts,” said archaeologist Matthew Stout. Irish folklore contains many tales surrounding this theme, but they all share a common plot: anyone who damages a Fairy Fort naturally falls ill, loses limbs, or dies.
Of course, no archaeologist believes that Fairy Forts are the work of mythical beings. In the 20th century, both Irish and international archaeologists repeatedly visited this island nation’s Northwest, searching for and excavating this system. Ultimately, they concluded that Fairy Forts are the remnants of civil structures dating back to ancient times, the earliest being around the 6th to 7th centuries BC.
Initially, Fairy Forts were likely circular enclosures that protected both livestock and humans. (Photo: Reddit).
Interesting Relics
In 1991, Irish archaeologists estimated that there are about 30,000 to 40,000 Fairy Forts in the Northwest, most dating back to the 7th to 9th centuries. During this time, Northwest Ireland was home to more than 200 kingdoms, each as small as a village. The economy of all these kingdoms relied heavily on livestock farming.
Initially, the Fairy Forts likely included not just stone foundations but also ditches and protective walls… “Essentially, it resembled a circular refuge, with a deep outer ditch, followed by a fence made of earth and stone or wood, and a spacious inner area for livestock as well as a round house for human inhabitants,” archaeologist Stout speculated.
“Fairy Forts were not military fortifications or impregnable castles but simply shelters for people and livestock to avoid harsh weather and predators,” he concluded.
Radiocarbon dating of the Fairy Forts shows that no structures were built after the 12th century. Through much reasoning and debate, Irish scholars agree that the cause was due to the Vikings.
Around the 850s, the Vikings established the first towns in Ireland. Skilled in maritime navigation and trade, they brought various types of grain to this island nation, meeting the food demands that had relied almost entirely on milk and meat from the locals.
The fear of punishment by fairies has helped preserve the Fairy Forts in Ireland. (Photo: Atlasobscura.com).
Compared to livestock farming, buying grain was less expensive. Consequently, the number of locals engaged in farming quickly decreased, while the number of abandoned shelters increased. Over time, their walls deteriorated, and the ditches became buried, leaving only the stone foundations.
Any abandoned structure soon became associated with spirits. Irish folklore is steeped in superstition, filled with tales of revenge, mischief, and punishments by fairies and elves.
“Today, the Irish do not believe in fairies but still avoid disturbing Fairy Forts. Even if it’s just to remove a thorn bush that must be pulled from the stone foundation, they remain cautious,” archaeologist Stout said.
Unbeknownst to them, this very superstition has saved the Fairy Forts from land exploitation for agriculture and construction… Thanks to this, there are still about 32,000 Fairy Forts throughout the Northwest today. All are classified as protected sites, attracting tourists interested in archaeology and folk beliefs.
