Danny Healy-Rae, an Independent TD (or member of parliament) from Kerry in the south-west of the country, claimed a dip that had reappeared after being repaired on the N22 road was the result of “numerous” fairy forts in the region.
The so-called fairy forts are the remains of hillforts or round dwellings found mainly in Ireland, some of which date back a thousand years.
Local folklore suggests disturbing a fairy fort can bring misfortune.
Mr Healy-Rae called them “sacred places” and told 'The Irish Times' that “anyone that tampered with them [fairy forts] back over the years paid a high price and had bad luck”.
He added: “If someone told me to go out and knock a fairy fort or touch it, I would starve first.”
