All the stories in The Faerie Thorn & Other Stories ‘grew out of’ real places in County Antrim, Northern Ireland.
The Faerie Thorn is set in the townland of Moycraig and you can see the places that inspired this story here :
The Story of Amergin is set beside the River Bush at Ballaghmore, close to present-day Bushmills.
The Merrow of Murlough Bay is set in Murlough Bay and the surrounding area. It features such places as Fair Head, Benvan and Barnish. You can see Murlough Bay here:
The Song of Hulva is set in Breen Wood, close to Ballycastle. This is a picture of Hulva. She’s at the very heart of the wood and her berries are just about to turn red.
The Spirit of the Meadow Burn is set in Bushmills and features many places along the River Bush, such as the Conogher ford, the Stranocum ford, the stepping stones at Clontyfinnan and Saint Columb’s Rill at Ballyness. You can see the Meadow Burn (now known as Saint Columb’s Rill) here:
This is a picture of Bonner Mill (traditionally known as Curry’s Mill) in Bushmills. The mill, and its water wheel, inspired this story!
The Terrible Tale of Fillan McQuillan is set along the beautiful coastal strip between Ballycastle and Portballintrae, ‘and a fair way inland too.’ The big white house on the Lannimore Hill was inspired by Mount Druid House , a rectory that overlooks Ballintoy.
Seachmall is set in Dunseverick Harbour: