John Mee
The Rag Tree
As you travel around Ireland, occasionally you may come across a tree by the roadside covered in rags or scraps of clothing. Sometimes, these trees are close to Holy Wells.
The custom of hanging rags on trees is particularly strong among Ireland's Traveller community. Travellers also have a very strong attachment to Holy Wells, often visiting a series of them annually.
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 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.
This rag tree overlooks Killary Harbour at Leenane in County Galway
The Rag Tree
As you travel around Ireland, occasionally you may come across a tree by the roadside covered in rags or scraps of clothing. Sometimes, these trees are close to Holy Wells.
The custom of hanging rags on trees is particularly strong among Ireland's Traveller community. Travellers also have a very strong attachment to Holy Wells, often visiting a series of them annually.
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 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.
This rag tree overlooks Killary Harbour at Leenane in County Galway