Sites and Monuments Record · Ireland
Ritual site - holy tree/bush
Dooneen (bunratty Upper By.), County Clare, Ireland
The record
- Townland
- Dooneen (bunratty Upper By.)
- County
- Clare
- Country
- Ireland
- First-edition OS map
- Skeaghvreedy Bush
- Latest-edition OS map
- Skeaghvreedy Bush
- Coordinates
- 53.12664, -9.06928
- SMR number
- CL003-040----
Slide toward Today to fade the historical sheet and see the modern map underneath.
David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries
Shown on 4 historical map sheets, the earliest the 1753 "Mappa geographica Regni Hiberniae" (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries).
This record in the National Monuments Service's Historic Environment Viewer ↗
The National Monuments Service's description
On a moderately steep SW-facing slope of good pastureland, on the seaward side of the N67. Indicated and named ‘Skeaghvreedy Bush’ on the 1842 and 1915 eds. of the OS 6-inch maps and named ‘St. Brigid’s Bush’ on Robinson’s map (1977). Listed as 'Holy bush (possible)’ in the RMP (1996). A cluster of three or four windswept and flat-topped whitethorn bushes. According to Houlihan (2016, 43–4), pilgrims still gathered here on Brigid’s day within living memory, but the tradition has now stopped.
Compiled by: Mary Tunney and Ros Ó Maoldúin
Date of upload: 15 December 2020
References
Robinson, T. 1977 (revised 1999) The Burren: a two-inch map of the uplands of north-west Clare. Map scale 1:31680. Roundstone: Folding Landscapes.
Houlihan, M. 2016 The sacred trees of county Clare. Privately published.
Nearby in the register
- Ringfort - rathunder 1 mi
- Burnt moundunder 1 mi
- Burnt moundunder 1 mi
- Fulacht fiaunder 1 mi
Other entries of the same register within about three miles of this one, by straight line.