Ritual site - holy tree/bush

The National Monuments Service's description

In pasture, to S of house (The Glen) and close to site of Killuragh church (14128). Fallen tree, known locally to protect from drowning anyone carrying a part of it; local inhabitants carry a chip of it when travelling. Windele, in 1847, refers to 'a beautiful and healthy tree, immensely large, and sacred to St. Cranit' (Grove White 1905-25, vol. 3, 303). Tradition that bell used to ring about midnight when wind blew through the tree; when it was partially destroyed by storm in 1834, a bell, possibly associated with church, was discovered embedded in it (ibid.). Byrne (1896, 59) noted emigrants taking chips from tree until 'at last it disappeared entirely...about thirty years ago'; Grove White (ibid.) suggests that a second tree may have grown from off-shoots. He adds that 'crowds of parishioners came on St Craunat's day to pray at the Old Tree, finishing their rounds at the well at Ballingurrane' (13986) (ibid.).

The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Cork. Volume 4: North Cork' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 2000). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research.

Date of upload/revision: 14 January 2009