The fairies, it seems, liked to have their own way and there are many accounts of their habit of dictating to farmers where they should, or should not, erect buildings. They were also interested in the materials used. A farmer in the parish of Dunboe wanted to build a fence and he took some stones from a nearby rath. As he was collecting the stones, a little man came along and said, ‘You’d be as well to leave the stones where they are.’ The farmer took no notice of the warning and began to build the fence. When it was half-way up, the little man came again, shouting that the farmhouse was on fire. The farmer rushed to the top of the hill, but he saw no fire.  When he returned the fence was pulled down. This happened twice and, when the little man came a third time, the farmer ignored him and continued to build. Shortly after, his son came rushing to tell him that the house had been burned to the ground. It is unlucky to ‘cross’ the fairies. (Foster, Ulster, 78-79)