Our Story
Look closely child with curious eyes…For magic lives within the wild!
Wild Bluebells growing near the Fairy Thorns.
Welcome to Cailleach’s Cottage, nestled upon the Slieve Aughty Mountain range in County Clare, in the wild west of Ireland. Wolf and myself blissfully stumbled upon our little Irish cottage back in 1992, shortly after our hand fasting.
It had laid empty and unloved for well over 40 years, and needed far more than love to bring it back to life! Local farmers soon warned us our home was on a Fairy Path; which travelled down towards the cottage, passing in front of our home, then gently meanders out into the main field; ending at two very old Hawthorns, or Fairy Trees.
Everyone that had looked at the cottage fell in love. If they tried to buy it however, the sale always mysteriously fell through. Maybe it was just waiting for us both to find it? As our own experience was totally different, with it all done and dusted in 3 days! We have both been extremely blessed to live here ever since.
The Sidhe are still here and still walk the path, especially on their traditional ‘Moving Days’; at Beltaine and Samhain, as well as at Midsummer. We leave out a little offering of food and drink at such times; so they neither thirst, nor hunger upon their travels.
We have always been very careful to respect them and they have always been very ‘Good Neighbours’ to us. Not so good however to anyone that does not show them the same respect! But that is a tale for another day.
“It is frightfully difficult to know much about the fairies,
and almost the only thing for certain is that there are fairies wherever there are children.”
We live just below an Irish peat bog, brimming with unique fauna and flora. Coexisting upon what first appears to be a barren, windswept landscape; until you look a little closer and listen a little harder!
The peat bog above our cottage. Looking out towards The Burren on the left, Galway Bay and The Atlantic Ocean middle distance and on the right, the Twelve Bens or, Pins or Connemara.
Wheeling Sky Larks burst into song over head, while Hen Harriers & Kestrel regularly patrol the bog; hunting for prey. We have White Tailed Sea Eagles nesting not far away in Mountshannon, and have seen both Merlins and Buzzards upon our wild wanders. The hauntingly distinctive cry of the Curlew often drifts across the mountain in summer.
While in April, we patiently await the Cuckoo’s song.
Old farmers here believe that to hear its call, means that they will be blessed to see another year!
The Cuckoo, by Wolf Lorien
“The Cuckoo comes in April, he sings his song in May. In the middle of June he change’s his tune and in July he flies away!”
The beautiful demoiselle damselfly
The blanket bogs and wetlands of east Clare are home too many fascinating insects, such as beautiful Dragon and Damselflies.
Four winged creatures that appear, as if from another age; which still survive & thrive in this highly distinctive habitat.
The slope below the bog, where our cottage nestles, is mostly wooded.
Once part of a much larger ancient woodland; suggested in the rich carpet of wood anemones, ransom and bluebells that flourish beneath the trees.
Wild Garlic or Ransom, growing along our drive.
Timid Red Squirrels can often be seen, shyly watching us as they acrobatically leap from tree to tree. We occasionally find their drays upon the ground after a storm; lined with dry mosses and cosy sheep wool. There are other distinctive animals here; Pine Martens, Irish Stoats & Hares, Badgers, and very healthy looking foxes!
A shy Red Squirrel happily emptying our bird feeder
We often see wild deer and goats; living not that far from the amazing moonscape of the Burren. Where wild goats are a common sight; seen climbing the ragged & almost sheer limestone rock faces. The ones local to east Clare are mostly a cross between wild goats and unwanted domestic pucks, set free onto the bog, or released deep within the forestry. We have often seen them roaming in large groups, or later discovered their droppings; as they love to graze the fresh leaves of Goats Willow and other newly sprouted trees. Whenever we plant saplings, tree protection is a necessity!
Much of the landscape here is farmland, or commercial forestry. One old farmer told me the land now owned by the forestry was originally sold for merely one single Punt per acre! (A Punts being the original currency in Ireland before the introduction of the Euro).
“I don’t believe in magic the young boy said.
The old man smiled.
You will,
When you see her!”
Eyebright, traditionally used to treat eye infections.
Within the ‘Cailleach’s Garden’, you will find lovingly grown organic plants & herbs, both magical and mundane. Each sown and grown at the appropriate planetary hour, and lunar phase. Harvested in their prime, as the need arises. In the fiery heat of the Sun, or the cool lunar light of the Moon.
Plants are also carefully & respectfully wild foraged, as I wander the mountainside, forest or loughs, throughout the changing wheel of the year.
To be used within a charm, or add to a newly created incense blend.
Alder and Birch, ready to be planted into our Druids Grove.
Within our sacred ‘Druid Grove’ you will find the trees of the Irish Ogham alphabet, and many more besides. Each one sown, grown and planted, lovingly by hand, unless they have chosen to grow here all by themselves.
There is also a small orchard, where every New Year we ’Wassail’ the sacred apple trees, to ensure a fruitful & bountiful harvest.
Wassailing our apple & pear orchard with toasted bread and cider.