The narrative follows Darby O'Gill, a man from Ireland who faces misfortune when the Good People, or fairies, begin to steal his livestock, including his beloved cow, Rosie. In desperation, Darby confronts the fairies at their mountain home, Sleive-na-mon, determined to retrieve his cow. He encounters Sheela Maguire, a fairy doctor, who advises him to wait until the moon rises to see a herd of cows, including Rosie, but warns him of the dangers of confronting the fairies. Darby’s anger leads him to the mountain, where he ultimately finds himself captured by the fairies. Inside their realm, he discovers a vibrant world filled with fairy folk engaged in various trades and merriment. He is brought before Brian Conners, the King of the Fairies, who is initially pleased to have Darby as a guest but later expresses regret that Darby cannot leave without revealing their secrets. As time passes, Darby becomes increasingly homesick for his wife, Bridget, and their children. He meets Maureen McGibney, his wife’s sister, who has also been taken by the fairies. Together, they devise a plan for Darby to escape. Maureen reveals that the fairies cannot harm anyone who possesses holly or is outside during daylight. She also learns a powerful word that can open the mountain's entrance. After several months, Darby manages to escape with the help of Maureen's plan, which involves creating a circle of holly around his home to trap the fairies. When the Good People come to retaliate, Darby successfully captures them between two rings of holly. He negotiates their release by demanding the return of his livestock and a sum of gold, while also ensuring that the fairies promise not to meddle with his family again. In the end, Darby returns to his family, enriched and relieved, while maintaining a respectful relationship with the Good People. The story concludes with Darby enjoying his life, often visited by the fairy king, who brings him gifts and companionship, illustrating a balance between the human and fairy worlds.
By Herminie Templeton Kavanagh · First published 1937 · Genre: Fantasy, Folklore, Adventure