Abstract: Story collected by Patrick Barden, a student at Poulfur school (Grange, Co. Wexford) (no informant identified).
Original reference: 0870/3/2
School Poulfur [Vol. 0870, Chapter 0003]
County The Schools' Manuscript Collection : County Wexford Schools
Fairy Forts [duchas:4998964]
Fairy Forts There is a fairy fort in the townland of Ralph. It is called ' The Ratheen', locally. Its shape is circular. On the outside there is a surrounding of bushes and briars, then a dyke, and a ditch. The entrance is a gap between the bushes and briars. They were supposed to have been built by the early races who came to Ireland as a protection against wild animals. In after years during the penal days priests said mass in the raths. There is a story told of a man who passed through the rath as he was coming from work. He saw several soldiers on horseback. He went home very frightened. He went to bed and died some time after. The people said the soldiers were the priest-hunters of the penal days he saw. One day a few years ago a boy named Patrick Mernagh passed through the rath with a comrade. He saw a little man. He was wearing a little red coat and a green knee-breeches. He told his comrade to look
Fairy Forts [duchas:4998965]
at the little man, but he did not see him. When he turned and looked again, he was gone. It was said that it was a fairy he saw. Patrick Barden Grange, Fethard-on-Sea, Co. Wexford. Fairy Forts Situated in an old lane and in the townland of Dungulph there is a rath. It is a big circular mount covered on the outside by a furze and outside the furze there is a (big) large trench. This rath is said to have been built by the people long ago to protect themselves from wild animals. It is supposed to be inhabited now by fairies. Long ago it is said a man went asleep on this rath and ever after that he was always
Original reference: 0870/3/2
Fairy Forts
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