Thanks for clicking through and looking.... and just to put into context, the image presented here.... I live at the edge of a group of mountains here in this very green land and behind our house, near the top of the closest tall hill lies a gateway to the Sidhe. And this is really the truth, there is even a mention in Wikipedia about it, which means it must be true because it is on the Internet! Atop the hill is what remains of an ancient Rath (ringfort), built upon the ruins of an even older Rath. Indeed, the entire suburb takes it name from the rath and it's ancient owner. Beside the rath, there is a large fairy circle and woe betide anyone that disturbs the trees in the circle to incur the wrath of the little people and the Sidhe. You would think that this enough to whet the appetite for mysterious ongoings in the middle of All Hallows, but there is more... the remains of a small castle sit to the side of all this, and the ruins have long since been claimed by a Puca (Pooka) these last few centuries, even before King James II fled after the Battle of the Boyne and stayed in the castle. He soon made his way, down to Killiney and off to France. His stay, permanently scarring him and besetting his entourage with nightmares for the rest of their lives! Several of his noble retainers tell the tale in their own words, one of them actually a very ancient relative of mine, and if you dig into the archived manuscripts you can read the evidence for yourself. They upset the Puca, and were forever touched by his curse. Now you may begin to understand why King James II never regained his throne. You might think I am winding you up, but all I have said is true, it really is! You can see it on Google Maps, and then clearly visible at the bottom of the hill lie the ancient remains of an early christian church used by Christian Vikings, for they were based in the city just north of here and along the coastline, just a short stroll from the mountains. In the church yard, beside what is left of the old round tower, you will find not only a fascinating example of early Viking/Christian Crosses, but a very deep pit known as the Skull Hole. From the very earliest church records, there are accounts of bodies being dropped down the shaft, usually when there was no more room in the graveyard or at times of high mortality (the plague). At the bottom of the Skull Hole, now sealed, there is a passage that if carefully followed should lead you down to the nearby sea, or if unlucky into the lands of the Sidhe to forever be lost to our sunlit world. To go in a third direction, you may end up wandering into the haunted abandoned lead mine of Carrickgollogan and forever be lost in its deep, dark bottomless passages. Many a poor wain has lost their way and over the years, you will hear stories of locals having encounters with the Puca while on their way back from a local wine merchant. Some of them waking up late the next morning far away on the other side of the country, none too wiser how they ended up so far away, but those are the lucky ones, others are never seen again. I'm not a local, coming from a land far away with its own dreamtime full of ancient history, but I've learned to heed the wisdom of local experts. We leave bread and snacks out at night for the little people, and make sure that there is a bench for them to sit on at the left side of the door when you exit the building, just so they can rest and not get up to mischief in our home. If I ever come out of the local wine merchant late at night, I know for certain not to accept a lift from mysterious looking black horses or helpful gentleman rabbits of 2 metre (6'5") height... not unless I want to spend the next day or two hitch-hiking my way across the country to get home. James Stewart (the actor) was lucky in this regard. But if you don't know what I am talking about, have a look at the movie 'Harvey' from 1950, all your doubts of my words will be erased then! Should you come this far over the sea to visit us, know that at least once or twice a year, we do hear the wild calls of the hunt late at night. If you look carefully through tightly closed drapes, just barely you might glimpse weird, flickering lights from the will 'o the wisps on the far mountainside or see the lanterns waved by the Sidhe, as they emerge for their celebration on the nearby hill. Listening carefully, you might even hear some of their music, but stay inside, for if you go to join in their festivities, you may never be seen again. So, here is a tribute to those lovely Sidhe just up the hill behind our house.... B, 2025. (PS used to layer in Ron's Smoke/Fog, and to adjust brightness/contrast. NO AI tools used, just my ancient PS tools.) #DAZ_Studio , #irishmyths , #irish , #mythology , #ireland , #maiden , #female , #fantasy , #fairy , #faeries