[JTolb]

Hello everyone,

I'm a grad student from the US. I'm currently in Ireland conducting research for my dissertation. I'm studying supernatural traditions connected to the landscape, and I was wondering if any forum members would be willing to talk with me about these issues.

I'm specifically interested in things like the M3 Motorway/Tara controversy, the destruction of forts and the consequences, and protests of development projects that threaten places with supernatural traditions connected to them.

I'm very interested in hearing what people think about these kinds of traditions and stories, and how they affect the way you think about different places and features of the landscape. Whether you believe in the supernatural side or not, do stories of ghosts or the fairies or other supernatural entities contribute to the way you think about certain places?

If anyone would be willing to talk to me about these things, please post here or send me a private message. I can also provide more information about my research if you have any questions.

Thanks for reading!

[slowburner]

Just the other day I was talking to a farmer who was kind enough to show me the whereabouts of some local ringforts.
The farmer had a litany of tales about people who had interfered with these structures and who suffered death, serious injury, or extreme misfortune as a direct consequence.
Without any shadow of doubt, the continued existence of these ringforts is due the perpetuation of this particular mythology.
It might be worthwhile to look at the case of Bridget Cleary.
There was a thread on the subject in the History & Heritage forum, some time ago.

[JTolb]

Originally Posted by slowburner

Just the other day I was talking to a farmer who was kind enough to show me the whereabouts of some local ringforts.
The farmer had a litany of tales about people who had interfered with these structures and who suffered death, serious injury, or extreme misfortune as a direct consequence.
Without any shadow of doubt, the continued existence of these ringforts is due the perpetuation of this particular mythology.
It might be worthwhile to look at the case of Bridget Cleary.
There was a thread on the subject in the History & Heritage forum, some time ago.

Thanks, slowburner. Bridget Cleary's case is very interesting. Have you read Angela Bourke's book? I haven't yet, but I'd like to. Fascinating story.

[NecroSteve]

I've heard stories of machinery refusing to work around forts, and I myself have experienced "fairy-leading", that is becoming suddenly and bewilderingly lost in a familiar place, after moving a few rocks on a fort. The traditional fix for this is to turn your coat or pockets inside out - guess what, it works!!

Edit: there was an instance in Sooey, Co. Sligo, a few years back, where poles put up near a fort repeatedly fell down without any obvious cause, despite being properly put up.

[ZX7R]

There is an old tread in farming and forestry about fairy forts it might help you

[JTolb]

Thanks very much, NecroSteve and ZX7R. I appreciate the help.

[slowburner]

There are two threads in Farming & Forestry - both well worth having a look through.

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showt...php?p=72767913

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showt...php?p=77964723