The Fairy Bridge – Clishmill, Isle of Man
The Fairy Bridge (Manx Gaelic: Yn Drochaid Brey or “The Bridge of the Fairies”) is one of the most famous and beloved superstitions on the Isle of Man. It is a small, unremarkable road bridge on the A5 (the main Douglas to Castletown road) near Kewaigue, just south of Douglas. To most drivers it looks like any other little hump-backed bridge over a minor stream, but to Manx people (and to thousands of TT visitors who have adopted the custom), it is the official greeting point for the island’s Little People – the fairies, or more correctly in Manx tradition, Mooinjer veggey (“the little people” or “themselves”).
Manx tradition of the bridge
When you cross the Fairy Bridge (in either direction), you are expected to say “Good morning/afternoon/evening, fairies!” or the Manx equivalent “Fastyr mie, Mooinjer veggey!”
Locals often simply say “Hello, fairies!” or give a little wave.
Bus drivers and tour guides will cheerfully announce it over the PA system, and you’ll see motorcyclists during the TT races lifting a hand off the bars in salute as they blast over the bridge at 150 mph.
Failing to greet the fairies is said to bring bad luck – flat tyres, mechanical breakdowns, rain on your parade, or worse. Many riders who have ignored the tradition swear they came to grief shortly afterwards and now never miss it.
Origins of the Belief
Like most Manx fairy lore, the story is a mixture of ancient Celtic belief and later Christian overlay:
• In pre-Christian times the island was thick with stories of the Sleih Beggey or Mooinjer veggey – a race of small supernatural beings who were not the winged, sparkly Victorian fairies of children’s books, but often moody, proud, and quick to take offence. They were thought to live in hills, ancient forts (like the keeills and cashtals), and under certain bridges.
• Bridges in particular were liminal places – crossing points between worlds – and therefore dangerous unless proper respect was paid.
• The current Fairy Bridge only dates from the early 20th century (it was rebuilt in concrete in the 1930s), but the tradition was simply transferred from an older bridge or crossing nearby. Some say the original “fairy crossing” was a ford or a now-lost wooden bridge a few hundred yards away.
There is a darker version of the tale: a spectral white horse and rider (the Lhiannan-Shee or a type of banshee) were once seen galloping across the fields here, and the fairies demanded acknowledgement to keep the rider from pursuing travellers.
Modern Life at the Fairy Bridge
Today the bridge is a charming tourist attraction in its own right:
• People leave notes, coins, flowers, ribbons, and tiny offerings in the cracks of the stone walls or tied to nearby trees.
• During TT fortnight it becomes a riot of colour – motorcyclists pin race numbers, stickers, and messages of thanks for safe laps.
• You’ll sometimes find plastic fairies, teddy bears, or even a lost glove “returned” by the Little People.
• The Manx Radio breakfast show still reminds listeners every morning: “Don’t forget to say hello to the fairies!”
The Little People – Mooinjer Veggey
Not cute Victorian fairies but a proud, diminutive race who live “under the hills” and fiercely guard their privacy.
• They ride tiny horses, herd miniature cattle, and hold markets at twilight.
• Steal a human baby → leave a changeling (a sickly fairy child).
• If you accidentally build on a “fairy path” or damage a fairy hill, expect crop failure, illness, or cattle dying.
• Saying “Hello fairies” at the Fairy Bridge is the modern version of paying respect when crossing their ground.
In 2019 the Department of Infrastructure even installed an official “Fairy Bridge” road sign with a little fairy silhouette, making it probably the only place in the British Isles where belief in fairies is recognised by the highways authority.
A Personal Note
Having been to the Isle of Man several times in my life and crossed the fairy bridge I can attest that there is a quiet magic about the place. It’s peaceful and beautiful. You can see why it’s believed to be a sacred place for fairies. The whole of the island is steeped in history and folklore and it’s definitely worth exploring.
Even the most hard-headed Manx engineers and politicians will mutter the greeting under their breath. When Prince William and Kate visited the island in 2022, their driver slowed down and the royal couple dutifully said “Hello, fairies!” – captured on camera for the world to see.
So next time you’re hurtling down the A5 on a hire car or a superbike, wind down the window (or just think it very loudly) and give the Little People their due. It costs nothing, takes a second, and who knows – it might just keep the curse of a Manx puncture at bay.
Moghrey mie, Mooinjer veggey!
