Skip to content
Support Us

We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

Erica's Fairy Forest

9 of the most enchanting fairy woods to explore around the country

Make a trip to some of the most magical spots in Ireland.

STRETCH YOUR LEGS, get some fresh air and search for magical creatures in one of Ireland’s many fairy woods.

Look high and low for fairy houses and doors, wishing chairs and, if you’re lucky, you might even see one of the dainty characters themselves.

Just be sure to watch your step! 

1. St Anne’s Park, Raheny, Dublin

Grab a cup of coffee from the Red Stables before strolling to the nearby fairy trees at the Mount Prospect end of the park. 

2. Ger’s Wild Atlantic Diner, Leap, Co Cork

Hidden behind Ger’s Wild Atlantic Diner is a tiny fairy village, complete with a miniature bridge for the fairies to cross the river safely.

3. Corkagh Park, Dublin 22

Located in Clondalkin, this fairy wood has a worry tree, a post box to send the fairies a letter and information about the job each fairy performs.

4. Wells House and Gardens, Co Wexford

On the grounds of Wells House and Gardens, Gorey, is a large fairy wood with new discoveries at every turn.

5. Erica’s Fairy Forest, Co Cavan

This special forest was created in memory of Erica Ní Draighneain, who lost her battle to childhood cancer aged five. Her parents created the garden in Cootehill to honour Erica’s memory and ‘her unshakeable belief in fairies and magical kingdoms.’

6. Templemore Park, Co Tipperary

Follow the fairy trail at Templemore Park, located just off Main Street.

7.  Russborough House and Parklands, Co Wicklow

Some fairies at Russborough House and Parklands, Blessington, have lived in the enchanted land of Lady’s Island for more than 270 years.

8. Fairy Bridges and Wishing Chair, Co Donegal

Take a trip to the hidden gem of the Fairy Bridges and Wishing Chair at Tullan Strand, Bundoran. 

9. Giant’s Lair, Co Down

Visit the Giant’s Lair story trail at Slieve Gullion Forest Park, Armagh. 

More: 11 places to go for picture-perfect views of Dublin> 

Close
3 Comments
This is YOUR comments community. Stay civil, stay constructive, stay on topic. Please familiarise yourself with our comments policy here before taking part.
Leave a Comment
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute mick wall
    Favourite mick wall
    Report
    Oct 22nd 2019, 8:24 AM

    31% of the board are women but 25% of the work force are female. Surely that signifies over representation?? What about the gender gap in prisons?

    297
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Greg Daniel
    Favourite Greg Daniel
    Report
    Oct 22nd 2019, 8:36 AM

    @mick wall: c’mon Mick the gender pay gap & equality program only applies to certain industries and functions with in society. The nice and comfy ones.

    Prisons, construction & refuse plants etc are not in scope, ya can have them all to yourselves.. it’s the Monday to Friday C-suite jobs only please.

    274
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute mick wall
    Favourite mick wall
    Report
    Oct 22nd 2019, 8:43 AM

    @Greg Daniel: agree. the gender pay gap is a myth. Why would an employer hire a man if they could hire a woman to do the same job for less money. The social welfare queue should exclusively compromise of men if it is the case

    191
    See 1 more reply ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Denis McClean
    Favourite Denis McClean
    Report
    Oct 22nd 2019, 12:32 PM

    @mick wall: Since the role of choice for many/most women is home maker and nurturer, and since that role doesn’t appeal or is impossible for many/most men, it would be logical to assume that there are/will be more men in the workforce. Maybe the 50%/50% An Post management team has chosen not to see this fact of modern life because it would suggest that it already favours the appointment of women over men in management positions. They should fix that first.

    32
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Ciaran O 'Reilly
    Favourite Ciaran O 'Reilly
    Report
    Oct 22nd 2019, 8:42 AM

    Dangerous game, the best person male or female should get the job end of story this gender qoata stuff need’s to stop.

    275
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Earth Traveller
    Favourite Earth Traveller
    Report
    Oct 22nd 2019, 8:49 AM

    @Ciaran O ‘Reilly: The Employment Equality Acts prohibit discrimination in relation to employment on the basis of gender (and other issues). Taking a person’s gender into consideration when making an appointment is illegal.

    61
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Eric Vdc
    Favourite Eric Vdc
    Report
    Oct 22nd 2019, 8:56 AM

    @Earth Traveller: so how can we explain the 50/50 ratio ratio between women and men in management?

    51
    See 1 more reply ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Keelan O'neill
    Favourite Keelan O'neill
    Report
    Oct 22nd 2019, 9:14 AM

    @Eric Vdc: because maybe that’s how ” the best person for the job” worked out

    14
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Use Your Head
    Favourite Use Your Head
    Report
    Oct 22nd 2019, 9:36 AM

    TheJournal really needs to wake up a bit. This article is phrased as if everybody accepts there is a gender pay gap – completely forgetting that some readers may be intelligent.

    161
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Arch Angel
    Favourite Arch Angel
    Report
    Oct 22nd 2019, 12:22 PM

    @Use Your Head: I think we all agree that every job/role should be paid a rate regardless of the plumbing of the person doing it. That doesn’t mean there will be some roles where the majority of people in them will be either men or women, they’re still going to be paid the same for the hours they work however.

    18
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute jacquoranda
    Favourite jacquoranda
    Report
    Oct 22nd 2019, 9:22 AM

    There is no gender *pay* gap, there’s a gender *earnings* gap. It’s illegal to pay someone less because of their gender.

    120
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Grainne Gillespie
    Favourite Grainne Gillespie
    Report
    Oct 22nd 2019, 7:00 PM

    @jacquoranda: Being illegal doesn’t mean it doesnt happen

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Keelan O'neill
    Favourite Keelan O'neill
    Report
    Oct 22nd 2019, 7:58 AM

    But will they……wait for it…… deliver on time!

    99
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Ian McDonald
    Favourite Ian McDonald
    Report
    Oct 22nd 2019, 8:52 AM

    @Keelan O’neill: Nope! Spent €10 last week, to send an important letter by Express, cos the regular post can’t be trusted. And now they’ve lost the letter! Been on to customer service twice, and still awaiting the promised callback.

    28
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Dave Thomas
    Favourite Dave Thomas
    Report
    Oct 22nd 2019, 9:45 AM

    So this is really just about management positions.

    49
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Arch Angel
    Favourite Arch Angel
    Report
    Oct 22nd 2019, 12:51 PM

    @Dave Thomas: Precisely. Gender equality in the boardroom is an absolute must, and they’re almost there. However when it comes to horsing a heavy bag of post around on a wet and cold Winters day it’s still viewed as a man’s job. Regardless of who does it, they’re both going to be paid the same for the same hours worked. That’s equality. Having the best person do a job instead of insisting half must be women (it never seems to be men) is not equality.
    If someone you love is being operated upon, would you prefer to be told the surgeon is the best in their profession or totally equal in every way possible.

    45
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute ➕The Gray➕
    Favourite ➕The Gray➕
    Report
    Oct 22nd 2019, 10:18 AM

    Facebook gender list, California’s gender list, the BBC’s gender list?, or are we talking just about two genders here. If it’s cheaper to have women in the workforce then surely the workforce would compromise of just women.

    50
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Karl Charlie
    Favourite Karl Charlie
    Report
    Oct 22nd 2019, 11:19 AM

    Work as hard and u will get paid as much there is no such thing as a gender pay gap or “we need more women in this career” if women wanted them jobs they would apply, if women worked as hard as men do they would get the job and the same pay but the fact is they just dont do the hours men do but want the same pay

    47
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Craic_a_tower
    Favourite Craic_a_tower
    Report
    Oct 22nd 2019, 11:19 AM

    What are they going to do make the women work the same hours as the men? That is the leading cause of the gender pay gap, working less paid hour than men.

    43
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Alan
    Favourite Alan
    Report
    Oct 22nd 2019, 10:03 AM

    Hmmm giving a person a job based on what genitals they have rather than who’s best for the job – just to hit some ridiculous quota is not only sexist but asking for trouble. Imagine if it was the opposite way around and creches had to by law have a 50 / 50 mix
    Most would close down through lack of staff

    80
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Damon16
    Favourite Damon16
    Report
    Oct 22nd 2019, 11:23 AM

    Why stop at gender. An Post should weigh, measure the height of and objectively judge the attractiveness of all their employees and correlate this with earnings.

    37
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Alan Currie
    Favourite Alan Currie
    Report
    Oct 22nd 2019, 12:12 PM

    Are the people who come up with this dumb enough to assume that males and females are attracted to exactly the same types of jobs/roles and therefore expect 50/50 outcomes? Equality of opportunity is what is needed and everyone would support, but equality of outcome is incredibly discriminatory as you obviously have to discriminate to get a 50/50 outcome, by definition.

    41
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Frank McGlynn
    Favourite Frank McGlynn
    Report
    Oct 22nd 2019, 3:04 PM

    More of this silly nonsense. If they really want so-called gender equality they will have to introduce a law compelling women to stay in the workforce after they have children and deny them the right to choose to stay at home. Choice is the root cause of all this alleged gender inequality.

    17
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Ciarán O' Donoghue
    Favourite Ciarán O' Donoghue
    Report
    Oct 23rd 2019, 3:30 AM

    I’ve never seen a woman deliver mail.

    3
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Bumder
    Favourite Bumder
    Report
    Oct 22nd 2019, 4:02 PM

    This is such a disgraceful issue, women are just as good if not better than their male counterparts in every industry!

    Pay them the same wage ffs!

    4
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Frank McGlynn
    Favourite Frank McGlynn
    Report
    Oct 22nd 2019, 9:12 PM

    @Bumder: They getting equal pay for equal work. Pay discrimination based on sex has been illegal since 1974. The discrepancy in earnings is due to the choices women make, not discrimination.

    5
Submit a report
Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
Thank you for the feedback
Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.

Leave a comment

 
cancel reply