Little doors are opening for the fairy business

Fairy trails and miniature houses have proved as popular with adults as with children, with big interest also from abroad, says Nuala Wolfe

IF you go down to the woods today you’re in for a big surprise — thanks to the fairies. Across Ireland and exempt from normal planning permission, the Little People are building houses in tree trunks at a rate not seen since the Celtic Tiger boom.

County Councils, tidy towns, schools, hotels and private individuals are employing ‘fairy architects’ to build miniature homes, and it all began in Cork, when fairy builder Peter, who chooses to remain anonymous ‘out of respect for the fairies’ privacy’ built exquisite little homes in Rineen Woods.