Posted on 13 Comments

If you go down to the woods today…

Magicland Dungloe Donegal

It took a while, but I finally worked it out. On sunny days Lidl’s car park in Dungloe is pretty full but the shop is quite empty. Just across the road from is the entrance to the River Walk. I have eyed this entrance many times as I have bundled the shopping into the back of the car.  Mothers with prams and toddlers are often headed this way. Yesterday I finally crossed to road and wandered into a magical woodland. No teddies to be found but a magical woodland with fairies and a giant troll. Here he is.

Troll from Dungloe's River Walk Land of Magic 2022
Troll from Dungloe’s River Walk Land of Magic 2022

 

The Troll: Photo credit Seamas Johnston
He’s really big! Photo credit Séamas Johnston
From Destination Dungloe on Twitter @DungloeD
Hitching a ride on on the back of a lorry from Northern Ireland last year. – Credit: Destination Dungloe on Twitter @DungloeD

 

Here’s a selection of images from the walk. It was inventive, funny, engaging and charming in equal measure. I just loved it.

Land of Magic - from Dungloe's River Walk Land of Magic 2022
Land of Magic – from Dungloe’s River Walk Land of Magic 2022
The backstory - from Dungloe's River Walk Land of Magic 2022
The backstory (in Irish)- from Dungloe’s River Walk Land of Magic 2022
The backstory - from Dungloe's River Walk Land of Magic 2022
The backstory – from Dungloe’s River Walk Land of Magic 2022

 

Some pretty cool houses
Just love those chimneys!
It’s also got a tiny out door privy

 

On such a sunny day there was plenty of washing hung out to dry
A fine bit of dry stome walling too.

 

An insect hotel too
Evidence of diverse bunch of fairies live here

 

 

I liked the pine cones around the edge
I liked the pine cones around the edge

 

EU notice - from Dungloe's River Walk Land of Magic 2022
EU notice – from Dungloe’s River Walk Land of Magic 2022

 

I wonder how many sightings of magical creatures have been reported to the Elf-13 office at the EU? A fair few I shouldn’t imagine.

More about the land of Magic

https://www.facebook.com/TheLandOfMagicDungloe/

Find out more about the talented people who made the Land of Magic  https://www.facebook.com/stickyfingersartsnewry/

https://www.newrydemocrat.com/news/2021/09/12/gallery/tri-na-draiochta-represents-a-new-dimension-in-cross-border-collaborations-18350/

Stor the Troll has settled into his new home in Dungloe

13 thoughts on “If you go down to the woods today…

  1. That does look fun. What a brilliant idea to engage with young children’s imaginations like this.

    1. It also gets them thinking about respect for nature (and the Little People).

  2. Outstanding post! It gives me some ideas for the next time our grandchildren come for a visit.

    1. Thank you, there were lots of really inventive ideas here. I liked they way they used the trees that were here and shaped their ideas around them. Fairies are very much with one with nature!

  3. This was delightful, Emma. A magical place indeed. The EU notice was the perfect touch too.

    1. I just loved the EU notice (also in Irish). It made me sad that Britain is no longer in the EU. Ireland definitely is in the EU and Northern Ireland is in the Single Market – these were big reasons for moving over here.

  4. Great post. Love the magic.

    1. Thank you, Geoff – it was quite a treat.

      1. Pleasure. Happy Monday Emma.

  5. What fun! I love your area of the world. That pacifier (dummy) tree is perfect!

    1. Its very sweet, isn’t it?

  6. I have re subscribed to your blog as I have not been seeing your posts in my Reader on WP.

    1. Thank you Leueen – that happened to me last year too! WP does odd things at times.

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