The first five episodes/chapters of Werewolf of Connemara are set in the Industrial School. In just published E4, Fergal escapes one fine night only to end up trapped in a Fairy Field.
For those of us who grew up in rural Ireland, our elders warned us of the dangers of Fairy Fields – fields that once you made the mistake of venturing into could never then find a way out, even if you walked to all four corners of the field in search of a gate or way to hop over a ditch or ancient stone-wall fence.
There was, of course, one way to escape a Fairy Field, for those who had the knowledge. And that was to turn your jacket or your trouser pockets inside out. Mind you, once superstition and belief in the Fairies (The Daoine Sidhe) started to die out in Ireland, the rational amongst us saw this as a likely excuse for drunk men staggering home from the pub on a quiet rural road, only to wake up in a field with their jacket on the wrong way. The wives were smart enough to blame the demon drink; the men the Daoine Sidhe.
This episode also introduces Fergal to guitar music, as he experiences long haired Celtic rockers in this mysterious field. As this is 1963, it is not the Horslips, I hasten to add, or any of those other rock bands in the late 60s, early 70s, who were influenced by Celtic music, and fused it with electric guitars. That said, the two of the songs I chose (and excuse my limited guitar playing) were The Irish Washerwoman and King of the Fairies. The Irish Washerwoman did end up in an early 1970s Status Quo cover of The Doors classic – Roadhouse Blues, while The Horslips gave the Irish hornpipe, The King of the Fairies, a whole new electric treatment in 1974.
Astute listeners will also note that King of the Fairies was also used in E3, as Bishop Nathy entered. It has a regal feel, and felt a good choice for a Bishop too.
This episode also has some erotic elements, although I try to go easy, and not be too explicit. But Irish writers such as Lady Jane Wilde (mother of Oscar) wrote of the dangers of mortal men falling in love with Fairy Women. She wrote:
“…the fairy women are beautiful, so beautiful that a man’s eyes grow dazzled who looks on them, with their long hair floating like the ripe golden corn and their robes of silver gossamer; they have perfect forms and their dancing is beyond all expression graceful; but if a man is tempted to kiss a sighoge, or young fairy spirt, in the dance, he is lost for ever – the madness of love will fall on him, and he will never again be able to return to earth or to leave the enchanted fairy palace. He is dead to his kindred and race for ever more.”
Enjoy The Fairy Field.
