Rag Trees

As you travel about Ireland you will from time to time come across a tree or bush by the roadside completely covered in rags or scraps of clothing.

You have found a ‘ragtree’ or a ’raggedy bush’.

Usually, though not always, the trees are close to Holy Wells, and they are almost invariably Hawthorn trees.

The custom of hanging rags on trees is particularly strong among Ireland’s Traveller community, an indigenous minority of nomadic people whose culture is very old and who still maintain many ancient customs which have largely died out among the rest of the population.

Travellers also have a very strong attachment to Holy Wells, often visiting a series of them annually.

Why do people hang rags on trees?

Photo by IrishFireside

Usually the rags are placed there by people who believe that if a piece of clothing from someone who is ill, or has a problem of any kind, is hung from the tree the problem or illness will disappear as the rag rots away.

Sometimes the rag represents a wish or aspiration which will come to pass as the rag rots.

Sometimes the trees are so loaded with rags that the leaves are pretty much invisible and the odd tree has even been killed by a particularly  heavy load. Undettered people continue to hang rags, now from a fence or wall where the tree used to stand.

Where to find Rag Trees

There are rag trees in many counties of Ireland, you will almost certainly pass at least one as you travel about. Ones we are aware of include:

• Derry: On the laneway leading to Dungiven Priory, on the A5 going east, just outside the town of Dungiven.
• Kildare: In Tully, near Kildare town, the tree is beside St Brigid’s well, near the old church.
• Kilkenny: As you travel from Kilkenny to Kells on the R694 there is a rag tree on the right about 4 miles from Kilkenny. It’s on a dangerous bend on a narrow road, so be careful if you are trying to take photos.
• Roscommon: Near the Well of St. Lasair, which is to the east of Ballyfarnon village.
• Sligo: Near the Holy Well at Tobernalt about three miles south east of Sligo Town
• Westmeath: Close to Fore Abbey, which is about 4 km east of Caslepollard. It’s right beside a well.

The Money Tree

Also interesting is the Money Tree, a Sycamore tree, at Clonenagh on the Portlaoise to Mountrath Road in Co Laois. There are thousands of coins hammered into the bark of the tree, supposedly in order to bring luck. The tree was, not too surprisingly, permanently damaged by this eventually. What remains is now preserved and there is a picnic area beside it.

Trees are part of a lot of old Celtic lore and legend and this page has a collection of intersting facts about tree is Irish myth.