Many places have their mysterious and mostly unseen supernatural beings, but the British Isles and Northern Europe are particularly rich in such folklore. In Ireland for example, the ancient race of the Tuatha De Danann were defeated in battle and retreated to dwell underground in the Otherworld. They manifest in folklore as leprechauns and fairies. Scotland’s equivalent are divided into the Seelie Court (benevolent) and Unseelie Court (mischievous). Norse mythology has its elves, both dark and light.
But it’s not so well known that Jersey has it’s own ‘little people’ who dwell in our ancient dolmens. Like their cousins elsewhere they are capricious. They can cause harm when annoyed but are capable of good deeds when placated.
Here, local artist Kerry-Jane Warner has portrayed a few of these folk caught unawares outside the entrance to the Neolithic passage grave of La Hougue Bie in the Jersey parish of Grouville.
socialbridge said:
Fascinating how Jersey has it own version, Roy.
I love the artwork.
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Roy McCarthy said:
Yes Jean, no crocks of gold though. Hold on, there was a big hoard discovered a couple of years back. You don’t think…?
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socialbridge said:
… just maybe …
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Ali Isaac said:
I never knew the Danann had cousins on Jersey, Roy! That’s amazing! Lovely artwork, too.
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Roy McCarthy said:
Yes I walked by this piece in an exhibition recently and kept coming back to it. Ended up buying it.
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Ali Isaac said:
You did? Wow! You are lucky to own something like that. Enjoy it! 😊
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Jill Weatherholt said:
What an amazing piece. Thank you for sharing, Roy.
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Carrie Rubin said:
I’m hoping to take my mom and stepdad on a British Isles cruise. Wonder if we’ll run into those little fellows. 🙂
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Roy McCarthy said:
That would be nice Carrie. Unfortunately Jersey can’t accommodate cruise ships or you’d get a warm welcome here.
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Carrie Rubin said:
Yes, I checked to see if that was on the itinerary, but sadly no. My stepdad’s origins are English and Welsh, and he’s never been to the UK. Would love to get him there.
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Roy McCarthy said:
Oh right – which bits of England/Wales?
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Carrie Rubin said:
That I don’t know. 🙂
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Browsing the Atlas said:
How interesting! They look like little tree people; like something you’d spy in a forest if you were looking closely enough.
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Roy McCarthy said:
Yes maybe, but more resembling their rocky homes for camouflage I think 🙂
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roughwighting said:
Have you ever caught sight of one of the ‘little people’? I’ve always believed that folklore begins from truth. The underground little people in this artwork look a bit bereft, I’m sorry to say. I would definitely want to placate them!
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Roy McCarthy said:
No, sadly I’ve never seen anything ‘otherworldly’ but I have an open mind. Yes, ‘bereft’ describes them well. I suppose we’d be likewise living underground for centuries 🙂
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roughwighting said:
For sure – I wish they felt safe enough to show themselves…
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diannegray said:
I love reading about these mysterious supernatural beings. Roy – and like Pamela I also believe that folklore begins from truth. This is a great picture by Kerry-Jane Warner – I would have bought it if you hadn’t 🙂
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Roy McCarthy said:
Thanks Dianne. My apartment walls are deliberately bare so this little work is very prominent and pleasing. I quite like the idea that the Jersey little folk have cousins throughout the British Isles.
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Minuscule Moments said:
So very cool Roy loving the art work and the folklore behind it. I often wished we had fairies in our garden as a child.
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Roy McCarthy said:
Maybe you had, but few can see them…
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