Ritual site - holy tree/bush

The National Monuments Service's description

A small lake, titled 'Askive Lough' on the OS maps but known locally as Hollywood Lake, is located in Askive Wood on the N side of the main Sneem-Kenmare road. It occurs in low-lying ground SW of Knockanamadane and is virtually inaccessible due to heavy overgrowth around its shores. A pattern was formerly held at the lake on July 8th, beginning on the preceding evening (Ó Ciobháin 1984b, 17-18).

The rounds, which consisted of making three circuits of the lake while reciting prayers, began and ended at a holly tree (KE100-046001-) whose shape resembled a woman.

It was customary for the pilgrims to stick pins and coins into the trunk of the tree, as well as to tie rags to its branches. They also brought home some of the lake water. The pattern day was known as 'the morning of the lake'. Graves noted that pilgrims travelled long distances to avail of the lake waters' 'miraculous power', which was particularly efficacious in curing 'sores' (1930, 117).

The above description is derived from A. O'Sullivan and J. Sheehan (compilers), 'The Iveragh peninsula: an archaeological survey of South Kerry'. Cork University Press (1996), no. 1064. In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research.

Date of upload: 30 July 2013