Sites and Monuments Record · Ireland
Ritual site - holy tree/bush
Ballyfin Demesne, County Laois, Ireland
The record
- Townland
- Ballyfin Demesne
- County
- Laois
- Country
- Ireland
- First-edition OS map
- NULL
- Latest-edition OS map
- Not indicated
- SMR number
- LA012-008----
This record in the National Monuments Service's Historic Environment Viewer ↗
The National Monuments Service's description
Unlocated holy bush within townland described by Helen Roe in an article entitled 'Tales of St. Fintan of Clonenagh' in the Journal of the Folklore of Ireland Society. The story goes that when St. Fintan was building the monastery at Clonenagh, he used to draw sand from the gravel ridge called The Downs near Portlaoighse. No one ever saw his journeys back and forward, and for a long time the people could not account for where and how the sand was got. At last one curious man set out to watch, and after several days and nights, he saw in the grey of the morning the saint coming with a load, leading his grey horse, which he was guiding with a peeled holly stick. He spoke to the saint who was so much annoyed that he turned the 'Fifteen Acres' near Ballyfin, and stcuk his holly stick into the ground beside it. The holly stick grew into the big holly tree which is in it now.
Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien
Date of upload: 17 December 2007