Folkstories of Changelings
The fairy realm had a huge impact on rural communities for centuries. A fairy would be able to take anyone to the realm if they were "bad", it was like a sample of hell that one may have the chance of leaving if they followed sets of rules. There are many first hand accounts of people entering and leaving the fairy world, and changelings were a big part of these beliefs.
Below are three stories of changelings from rural communities in Ireland.
Bridget Cleary
Bridget Cleary was 25 when she was killed by her husband in 1895.
Bridget had been ill for some time and her husband Michael was under great stress while caring for her.
Towards the end of her life he accused her of being a changeling, threw urine and kerosine all over her, and lit her on fire. He left her in a shallow grave close to their home.
Michael was brought to trial where he said fairies had taken his wife and he had only taken care of the changeling.Â
Michael was found guilty of manslaughter and sentenced to 20 years, he served 15 before emigrating to Canada.
Stolen Child
A farmer and his wife lived in the countryside with their infant son. One day while the farmer was in the field the wife was called away to help an old woman, the baby was sleeping so the wife decided to leave him in his cradle. As she was walking back her path was crossed by fairies so she rushed back home, but it was too late. Her healthy baby had already turned wry and had the face of a wizard with sharp pointed teeth. The farmer wanted to leave the boy on the side of a mountain for the fairies to reclaim but the wife wouldn't allow it and continued to care for the child. She decided to test the changeling one day while cooking, when it talked back to her she knew what it was, and threw it into the raging fire. The changeling turned into a puff of smoke and her child reappeared in it's cradle.
On the Island of Inishark
A man saw fairies stealing a child and was able to stop them by saying a quick prayer. The man took the child back to it's mother who was weeping next to a small corpse that is assumed to be a changeling. When the man instructed her to throw the corpse into the fire it turned to smoke and he was able to hand back her baby.