Virgin Mary appeared in the remains of a felled churchyard tree

Dont know if this on here already

Virgin Mary Makes An Appearance


Religious fever has taken root in a rural Irish village after workmen claimed the image of the Virgin Mary appeared in the remains of a felled churchyard tree. Skip related content
The supposed vision in Rathkeale, Co Limerick, has stumped locals who have come in their hundreds to pray and light candles in the grounds of Holy Mary Parish church.

While some believe the chopped willow should be preserved and covered in glass, others think the believers are just barking up the wrong tree.

Noel White, Rathkeale Community Council Graveyard Committee chairman, said workmen sprucing up the church land saw the image when they cut the tree.

"One of the lads said look, our Blessed Lady in the tree," Mr White said. "One of the other lads looked over and actually knelt down and blessed himself, he got such a shock. It was the perfect shape of the figure of Our Lady holding the baby."

Candles and rosary beads have been draped over the stump by prayerful locals with up to 700 holding a candlelight vigil last night and into the early hours of the morning.

Mr White said people have been travelling from neighbouring Co Kerry as word of the phenomenon spread, while it is believed a local Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) club from a nearby parish also brought two busloads of people.

"It is just a tree, but it is what it depicts when you look at it," Mr White said. "It is just phenomenal what's going on. And it's not just Rathkeale, they're coming in from all over the place."

But not all villagers have seen the supposedly divine image with some treating the discovery with scepticism.

Local priest Fr Willie Russell refused to get caught up in the hype but said he was not surprised by the outpouring of interest. "This is just going to go on and on," he said. "My impression of it at the moment is that I have no impression of it. It doesn't interest me that much at the moment. I have seen the tree ... it's only a tree."


[edit on 10-7-2009 by Alienmindflare]

[edit on 10-7-2009 by Alienmindflare]

Fr Willie Russell
I have seen the tree ... it's only a tree."

says it all.

If you look hard enough, you will see whatever you want anywhere you want.

reply to post by GarethAyres


You dont think that the apparition of Mary would stay there for a long period do ya? lol

Of course its just a tree,,she appeared next to it

reply to post by Alienmindflare


Oh heh, from the way i read it the first time i thought it was marked on the tree.

I didnt realise it was another case of 'it happened, we seen it, but we have no proof and its gone now'.

Here's a link with pic:

Virgin Mary in tree stump

People will see what they want...

[edit on 10/7/09 by shamus78]

reply to post by GarethAyres



Thanks for the pic Shamus


Sorry I must say,,I read it wrong,that'll teach me for reading first thing in the morning,I did think it was an apparition.

and now I think,urmm,its a tree :/

[edit on 10-7-2009 by Alienmindflare]

Originally posted by shamus78

People will see what they want...

[edit on 10/7/09 by shamus78]

Indeed they will:MJ not dead, MJ is an alien, MJ cloned, etc.

Not precisely on thread, but a perfect example of hysteria-driven theorizing.

Hi Alienmindflare!

Thanks for posting this! I'm really trying my hardest to see the resemblance to Mary holding baby Jesus. Look at the way it's cut, who cuts a tree like that anyways? Workers had too much 'Irish Coffee' for brekky