Crafting Fanny The Fairy: The Village of Ballydawley
The village of Ballydaw is inspired by the real Irish village of Ballydawley in County Cork. I wanted to highlight one of the qualities I admire most about small Irish villages: their remarkable sense of community. Ballydaw is a small place, home to only a handful of residents, yet its warmth and character are sustained by those who live there.
"Towards the heart of the village they trudged, their destination the bustling main street, where the stalls and shops beckoned with life's essentials."
In many small villages, the businesses that last are those that provide everyday necessities. When heavy snowfall or harsh weather isolates a community, these modest shops become far more than places to buy food or supplies. They become essential to daily life. That is why Dylan's story begins on the main street. From the very first pages, I wanted readers to understand the importance of community, resilience, and the simple routines that keep a village alive.
"What counted was that Mrs. Tamsin's place was the gateway to 'city' clothes—the kind that guaranteed you'd be the talk of the schoolyard."
Although Ballydaw is a small village, it is not immune to the social pressures found elsewhere. Access to the latest fashions from the city is seen as a symbol of privilege, especially through the eyes of a child. To Dylan, Mrs. Tamsin's shop represents everything that is fashionable and desirable. Owning clothes from her store would instantly elevate his status among his classmates. Unfortunately, his family simply cannot afford them. Instead, the jumpers, scarves, and hats knitted by his mother become his wardrobe. While they are made with love and care, they also set him apart from the other children in ways he sometimes wishes they did not.
"The demands of patient care, particularly in a small village with limited nursing resources, tugged her away from those desires."
The size of Ballydaw is also central to Lana's character. She is constantly called away from home because her patients are more than names on a medical chart. They are neighbours, lifelong friends, and members of the extended community she has known for years.
In a village where resources are limited, everyone depends on one another. It is not buildings or businesses that keep Ballydaw alive; it is its people. Their willingness to help, to sacrifice, and to stand beside one another is what gives the village its true strength.
Through Ballydaw, I wanted to celebrate the quiet beauty of rural communities. They may be small in size, but they are often rich in generosity, compassion, and resilience. Qualities that form the very heart of Fanny The Fairy.