Latoon Fairy Tree
If you head to County Clare in Ireland, you’ll come across the small town of South Latoon and if you’re lucky and curious enough, you might happen upon the Latoon fairy tree.
Also known as the Latoon fairy bush, it was believed that this marker was once a stopping point on a fairy path. It’s a Hawthorne tree, which is deeply associated with fairies and fairy activity. For generations, it was passed down that no one should ever vandalize, move, cut down, or take from a tree like this on a fairy path unless you wanted to experience the full wrath of the fae (which, believe me, you don’t).
It was believed the Latoon fairy tree in particular was used as a stopping point or way station for fairies as they made their way back to Munster after skirmishes with another set of fairies in Connaught.
In 2002, the Latoon fairy tree was threatened. There were plans to create the Ennis bypass which would completely uproot the tree. Public outcry rang strong and many defended leaving the Latoon fairy tree where it was, for fear of bad luck and fairy wrath.
In particular, Eddie Lenihan, a folklorist, was a huge part of this movement and he campaigned to save the tree. He argued that if Ireland recognized landmarks of historical and religious significance, it should protect places of fairies and folklore too. He was fantastic at rallying the local community. He made the argument that it would have to be proven that the fairies didn't reside there beyond a shadow of a doubt. And, in Ireland, no one was willing to confirm they didn't exist without a shadow of a doubt.
Eventually, the town planning committee agreed to reroute and avoid destroying the Latoon fairy tree. Sadly though, just a year later, the tree was vandalized by a chainsaw. Its branches were shorn and it was reduced to a sad stump.
After a few months, though, new shoots began to sprout and the Latoon fairy tree powers on today.
Thanks to Kathleen for this blogstonishing suggestion!
The blog header image depicts It depicts pasture at Latoon South, in County Clare Ireland taken by Graham Horn. This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Generic license.
