The Bell Tree, ritual site in County Tipperary

This remains an important historical record, but the official description says the monument is no longer visible or has been destroyed. The monument record does not grant public access. Check the route and ask the landowner before entering private land.

What is recorded here

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Indicated on the 1904 ed. OS 6-inch map as 'The Bell Tree', a name which could be a corruption of the Irish 'bile' meaning holy tree. The OS letters (1840) mention 'a large ash tree in full bloom, measuring eighteen feet six inches [5.63m] in circumference at the base, about one hundred paces to the east of it [i.e. the 'Fort of Rath Ronain' TS-77-061----]'. According to Lucas (1963, 23), 'a local writer in 1949 referred to [it] as the "bella tree" and described [it] as in decay'. There is no trace of this tree which according to local information was felled in 1958, before which it was a popular meeting place known as the 'bella tree'. A young ash was planted in its place. There are a variety of trees in this location, all of which appear to be young.

From the National Monuments Service (Archaeological Survey of Ireland) record TS077-062

Places near here

Photo credits

National Inventory of Architectural Heritage
Maker not stated on source page, www.alamy.com
Maker not stated on source page, uk.pinterest.com
Moyle Rovers GAA official Clubify home page; individual photographer not stated, moylerovers.clubifyapp.com
Maker not stated on source page, tr.pinterest.com
Maker not stated on source page, v.pinimg.com.gslb.pinterest.com
Maker not stated on source page, en.wikipedia.org
Maker not stated on source page, www.dreamstime.com
Maker not stated on source page, www.pinterest.ca
surrealpenguin, Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 2.0

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