The Faeries By William Allingham

The Faeries, by William Allingham
William Allingham (1828 – 1889) wrote a brief poem about faeries. To most
People, it’s just a cute and catchy poem for children. However, for those
who’ve studied faeries, he’s left many clues about them.
The Faeries
Up the airy mountain,
Down the rushy glen,
We daren’t go a-hunting
For fear of little men;
Wee folk, good folk,
Trooping altogether;
Green jacket, red cap,
And white owls’ feather!
Down along the rocky shore
Some make their home,
They live on crispy pancakes
Of yellow tide-foam;
Some in the reeds
Of the black mountain lake,
With frogs for their watch-dogs,
All night awake.
Because this poem is so famous, it’s often quoted. For example, the opening
Lines were quoted near the beginning of the movie Willy Wonka & the
Chocolate Factory. They also appeared in Mike Mignola’s comic book short
Story Hellboy: The Corpse, and in the 1973 horror film Don’t Look in the
Basement.
In addition, the working title of Terry Pratchett’s The Wee Free Men was
“For Fear Of Little Men”.
William Allingham and Ballyshannon
William Allingham was born around 1828 in Ballyshannon, Co. Donegal, Ireland
If you’ve seen the wild countryside around County Donegal, the poem has
Even greater significance. The landscape is ideal for encountering faeries.
Interestingly, archaeological digs around Ballyshannon have found pieces of
Quartz placed in the hands of those who died. The mystical significance of
Quartz makes this very curious.
Ballyshannon’s faerie history
Ballyshannon, created a Borough in 1613, is Ireland’s oldest town. In the
Irish language, the town’s name is Béal Átha Seanaidh.
The highest point in the town of Ballyshannon is called Mullgoose, the site
Of the Mullaghnashee. That may come from “mullach,” meaning on top of, and
“sidhe” or “sidh” (pronounced “shee”) meaning faeries.
At one point, St. Anne’s church was built on that site, and both the church
And graveyard next to it were referred to as Sidh Aedh Ruaidh, or the Fairy
Mound of Red Hugh.
“Red Hugh” — King Aedh Ruadh — ruled Ireland in the third century B.C.
A later “Red Hugh” was Aodh Rua Ó Domhnaill, Anglicized as Hugh Roe Ó
Donnell (ABT. 1572 – 10 September 1602), often called Red Hugh II.
He was the King of Tír Chonaill (or Tyrconnell) in Donegal, and he led a
Rebellion against English government in Ireland. His story was made into a
Movie in 1966, The Fighting Prince of Donegal (Disney).
Many people believe that the hill at Mullgoose is a faerie mound, and an
Access point to the middle world of the faeries.