On 31 October 1951, there were reports in the English newspapers the Daily Mirror, Daily Telegraph and on 4 November in the Sunday Express of fairies in Limerick. At the time Limerick Corporation were building houses in Ballynanty Beg and the reports state that there were objections to the build due to a fairy fort at the site. One report stated:
There is a mound of earth at Ballynanty Beg, and the folk of the village have known for centuries that the leprechauns meet there every night and make shoes. Strangers have noticed that all the cottages of the village stand well away from the mound. “And why shouldn’t they?”, the villagers say, pointing to the mound. “Isn’t it the meeting place of all the leprechauns and fairies in Limerick.” But the Corporation in Limerick did not think so. It drew up plans for building an estate of 475 cottages. And right in the middle of it was the obstructive home of the leprechauns. The Corporation sent up a bulldozer. The local workmen boycotted the building operations. The Corporation brought in workmen from County Clare., Soon after that the new workmen complained that parts of the houses they built during the day were being dis- mantled at night by the fairies. They left the job. The corporation met yesterday and decided to leave the hill to the leprechauns. The estate will be built around it.
The city would later receive an apology from the Irish News Agency but it came too late as the news had spread as far away as Australia.
Image: OSI 1900 showing the ringed fort on the top left.
Wow, that is a very large family even for then. Thank you for sharing Rita.
Rita obrien I lived in 26 ballynanty road till I was 10 then moved to no 50 we had 17 in family. In total
Hi Tier, I have only just picked up on your reply. Do you still live in Limerick? I have lived in Perth Western Australia for almost 50 years now. I have visited Ballynanty more than once on trips back to see my Muother
That man was David Crawford my mums uncle. We lived at no 32 Moylish Rd I remember the farmhouse well as we used to chase his cows , Tier is my name. Great times.
Hi again Alan, was No 19 in the square that is now a carpark for the family centre? Look me up on Face Book and we can PM. I am the Robert McLoughlin who lives in Perth. The Two in Limerick are my cousins.
Hi Alan, it was knocked over about 1956 as best I can remember. I bet Mr Crawfords family still live in the same house.
The above should read 12 or 13 Children, I can’t remember the exact number. It was back in the 1950s
hi robert i was raised at no.19 it was probably gone by the time i was out and about
The Fairy Fort was finally demolished by a man named Crawford who used to live at the top end of Shanabooly Road close to the intersection with Clonconane Rd. He had 2 or 13 children and it was reputed that he took the job because no one else would do it. His fee was also reputed to be substantial.
I was there the day he demolished it.
We used to play in and around the fort, I can assure you there were no Faeries or Leprechauns in residence.
I lived at 27 Clonconane Road. It was demolished and is now the family centre.
Question is the group of buildings in the top RH side of the map the farmhouse and barns that were demolished when Moyross was built.
Robert McLoughlin