Allen Blog- Hugh's Story- The Fairy Fort

 

Hugh grew up in a magical place. Besides the ruins at Dangan Castle, Hugh's family farm was bordered by the most magical of places- a fairy fort.

                                  Allen farm on left and fairy fort on right

This enticing hill surrounded by rings of grass covered ridges and depressions that would have been a tempting place for young boys to play. But it was very likely forbidden- a place only entered upon by a childhood dare and then quickly exited at a full run. Or did the neighboring Allen children become so familiar with this place that they played comfortably there? If so, they were looked on kindly by the fairies.

Because this was a real fairy hill- a place surrounded by superstition. These ancient fairy forts, dotted across Ireland, belonged to the realm of the fairies and were protected by them. Rumors of mysterious occurrences surrounded them- strange dancing lights or the sounds of soft lilting music in the dark of night. These curious places were not to be disturbed by humankind. There were stories of people who had gone into a mystical trance or even disappeared if they wandered onto them. Some believed that fairy forts had secret underground caverns that led to the other world. And woe betide anyone who disturbed this protected piece of earth in order to build human abodes- this would provoke the wrath of the fairies and bring seriously bad luck. To this day, the fairy forts of Ireland, including the one next to Hugh's childhood home, remain, respected and left alone by the local people.

In fact, the fairy fort next to Hugh's home was the very one that had given the name to the area in which they lived. "An Daingean" which later became Dangan, means "the fort."

We know now, that this was an ancient ring fort, also known as a rath. Dating back to the Bronze Age- 500-1000 A.D., these circular or oval hills had been the site of fortified homesteads or farmsteads. The oval ring at Dangan was 35 meters wide- and at that size was likely the abode of a Celtic nobleman. 

During Celtic times, there were eight chieftains, or Tuaths, in Meath, who served the King at Tara. Below these chieftains were free farmers, who also had smaller raths. These were built to protect the farmstead and its most prized possession- cattle- from raids.

The raised circular/oval hill was surrounded by earthen or stone banks for protection which were then surrounded by a fosse- a ditch of water that was the progenitor of later castle moats. A winding incline led up to the rath. The family lived on top of the ring fort, and their dwelling sometimes included an underground passage- souterrain- used as storage or a refuge during attacks. Some of these went quite deep into the earth, and are probably the origins of the later superstitions that these were fairy entrances into the other world.

The rings and depressions around the Dangan ring fort can be seen clearly in the satellite image below.

                                              Ring fort at Dangan

Watch the video below to learn more  about ring forts!

A video about Irish ringforts

Irish Fairy Tales to read online

Irish Fairy Tales by Stephens

Fairy and Folk Tales of the Irish Peasantry by Yeats

Sources:

http://www.meathheritage.com/index.php/archives/item/me01769-dangan-ringfort-rath

Cusack, Illustrated History of Ireland, 1868 Chapt XV

History: Trim, County Meath

                                Trim 1841 print by CT Dixon published in "Ireland, its scenery and character by Hall"


It was only four miles- about an hour and a half walk north- from the Allen farm in Great Umberstown/Dangan to the castle town of Trim. Situated along the river Boyne, the great castle and cathedrals were magnificent pieces of history for this part of Ireland. Agricultural markets and village shops were likely to have drawn our ancestors to the historic town.

The history of Trim far outdated our Norman ancestors likely arrival in Ireland.

A nephew of Saint Patrick, Saint Loman, built a monastery there during the fifth century, becoming the first Bishop of Trim. His successors were titled the Bishop of Trim and Abbot of Saint Mary's Abbey, where the "Yellow Steeple" can be seen today.

It wasn't until the twelfth century (1172) that King Henry II of England granted Meath to Norman Hugh de Lacy, who built the original structure on the banks of the River Boyne, leaving his nephew Hugh Tyrell in charge. Rather than surrendering the structure to the attempted invasion by the Irish King of Connacht, Tyrell burned it down and built a stone castle in its place. Hugh de Lacy died in 1186 and his son Walter became Lord of Meath. It was Walter who in 1204, founded an annual fair at Trim during the final week in February but by the 15th century, the fair was held in June or July.

The next attempted invasion came in 1210, when King John of England camped in a meadow outside the castle, giving the nickname "King John's Castle" to the edifice although he never stepped inside. His target, Walter de Lacy, locked up the castle, and then escaped. Afterwards, de Lacy further fortified the stone castle, creating what is now the largest Norman castle in Ireland. 

By the 13th century, Trim was one of the most important market towns in Meath. The walled medieval town had seven monasteries and three hospitals. Market day was usually held on Thursdays on Market Street. Goods available here included salted fish and meats, flour, oats, vegetables, butter, cheese and salt. Barrels of honey and wine were also sold. Live animals were traded, as were animal skins, leather, and wool. Various cloths were available- both simple linen or wool and finer silks. Some goods came by boat along the River Boyne, others were transported by horse and cart. Besides the market, regular tradesmen and craftsmen had shops in the town. There was a baker, and a wheelwright who made carts. Trim was a hub of trade.

The town was nearly invaded by the Scot Edward Bruce in 1315. At that time a Famine and the Black Death ravaged the countryside.

In 1399 King Richard II of England visited the castle, leaving behind two wards. One of the boys, Prince Hal, later became Henry V of England.

By 1600 the castle had been unoccupied for years and was in ruins. Cromwell's invaders captured the city in 1649 and his English followers were given estates and manors throughout the countryside. By the end of the 17th century, the town had lost its status as a center of Catholic wealth and power. 

(See Places to visit- Trim, County Meath)

Sources:

Richard Butler- History of Trim

http://irishwalledtownsnetwork.ie/page/trim/trim-info

http://www.irishidentity.com/extras/places/stories/trim.htm

http://mural.maynoothuniversity.ie/5121/1/Michael_Potterton_Vol-2_20140624131030.pdf

http://www.docbrown.info/docspics/irishscenes/ispage81b.htm

http://www.navanhistory.ie/index.php?page=navan-and-meath-2

History: Dangan castle

http://www.meathheritage.com/index.php/archives/item/me01770-dangan-castle-tower-house
https://www.libraryireland.com/Pedigrees2/wellesley.php
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dangan_Castle

The Tower House Castle at Dangan

Built about 1380 by Sir Simon Cusack, the manor of Dangan was later inherited through marriage by Sir Richard de Wellesley. The Wellesley's converted to Protestantism after 1640, thus allowing them to keep their lands at Dangan and elsewhere throughout Ireland.

At the time of the Civil Survey (1654-1656) Valerian Wellesley had 360 acres at Dangan, including a castle, a chapel, a mill and some thatch houses. He also had 600 acres throughout Laracor Civil parish.

The Manor passed down through the Wellesley family, until  Garrett Wellesley, who was a parishioner of Jonathan Swift at the Laracor Parish Church of Ireland, died childless and left it to his cousin Richard Cowley, who agreed to change his name to Wesley upon the inheritance in 1728. It is thought that Richard was the one who built the two story mansion that is still a ruin on the property, demolishing the castle.

Arthur Wellesley, later Duke of Wellington, was the 5th son of Garrett Wellesley, and was reportedly born at Dangan on May 1, 1769.

The caste burned in 1809 and was never restored.

http://www.meathheritage.com/index.php/archives/item/me01770-dangan-castle-tower-house

The Battery at Dangan Castle- 

This was a toy fort, built to entertain Garrett Wesley, who was born in 1735- the father of Arthur Wesley, Duke of Wellington, who defeated Napoleon at Waterloo.

A visitor to Dangan in 1748 described the grounds at Dangan as having a garden of 600 Irish acres, and a gravel walk to a 26 acre man-made lake, which had several ships- one a complete man of war. Garrett was her godson, who played there. 

(Diary of Mrs. Pendarves/later Mrs. Delaney)

Another visitor in 1752, Richard Pocoke, described the lake with an island fort and boats. On a hill near the Dangan house were a temple, and the hills around had obelisks and pillars.

The obelisk at Dangan

http://www.meathheritage.com/index.php/archives/item/me01788-dangan-battery