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TO THE SIDE of the Newmarket-on-Fergus bypass in Latoon, Co Clare, is a nondescript green bush.
Even if passers-by were to move slowly, nothing about the bush would make it stand out from the dozens (if not hundreds) of shrubs along the dual carriageway.
However, the story behind the hedge made international headlines in 1999 when plans for a new motorway required its destruction. News of this prompted Eddie Lenihan, a renowned Irish storyteller (or seanchaí), who has been collecting stories for 43 years, to fight for its preservation. The hedge, in fact, is a fairy bush – and its removal would “create trouble.”
Lenihan learned about the bush’s history through a farmer who told him he once saw “lumps of green stuff with the consistency of liver” around it, indicating “that there had been fairy battles around the bush the night before.”
“The bush was significant for them and it was a meeting point for Munster fairies to battle with Connaught fairies,” he tells TheJournal.ie.
Lenihan was passing the bush one evening on the way home from teaching in Limerick when he saw machinery and road workers beside it. “I knew nothing about the road being built, and asked them what would happen to the bush,” he says.
After being told that the bush would be destroyed, Lenihan wrote to the Clare Champion and Clare FM about the consequences that its removal would bring.
“I told them not to move the bush and there would be serious consequences if they did. People would be killed on the motorway,” he says.
Lenihan went on to write a letter which was published in the Irish Times and picked up by a New York Times correspondent: “It went what you would call ‘viral.’”
“That’s when the fun started,” he says. “People from the BBC, CNN, French and Swedish news channels and publications came over. By that stage, they couldn’t demolish the bush.”
Today, the bush still stands along the bypass, with its worldwide coverage leading it to be somewhat of a tourist attraction.
“If you move or destroy a fairy fort or Celtic ringfort, you’ll be in trouble and you’re creating trouble. Never shift a fairy bush,” he says. “It belongs where it is and nowhere else.”
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Why did no Irish media outlet investigate this, it’s a huge issue
@Irish Genius: Because any journalist who tries to hold power to account in this state in any meaningful way gets blackballed e.g. Gemma O’Doherty after she broke the story on Martin Callinan.
Instead we get spoonfed stories about leos socks.
@Irish Genius: I’d imagine because Ireland’s version of Donald Trump forbid it.
@The Risen: You mean the Irish Katie Hopkins?
Really clutching at straws.
@Irish Genius: Friends of friends unlike FB lol.
Cue the list (also known as friends of kenny), who will make statements saying they were never lobbied by their “friend” kenny, and thats supposed to make it OK then!
I also think sandberg was playing them, being intentionally extra nice to them when they were supposed to be stern to facebook about their business.
I’ve long said Kenny and the rest of the parasites are rotten to the core, I truly hope someday the truth comes out about what many politicians have done,not to be trusted whatsoever under any circumstances.
@Jonny:
It wouldn’t be a scandal by Irish standards.
FG/FF would sell their Granny’s for a touch of US investment. No problem going to court with the EU on behalf of Apple and the annual tradition of cow towing to the US President in the White House every Paddys day. The 51st state and all of that.
Winky winky backy slappy.
Proudly promoting cronyism since 1926 with a hearty laugh.
Of course they would, wouldn’t they? It is not as if there would be a paper trail to uncover what went on.
As if they were going to say yes he lobbied us…. FFG Out…
Checked the Indo and other online “newspapers” this morning, not a dickiebird about this scandal. Rest assured were it someone remotely connected with SF it would be headline news for a week.
Don’t know what’s all the gasp shock horror for this is the man that sold the country to the lowest bidder ..fn parasite.. .journalism in Ireland haha give me a break…
@Michael Nolan: who did he sell us to … I think we still own Ireland last time I looked it up…
@John Kelly: him and his mate noonan goldman sacs …vulture funds ….did nod off for a decade or 2 ..in a few years you won’t be able to buy a house .have another snooze check back when your proper rested
@John Kelly: The way FG have things running, soon enough, there won’t be a brick, a block, or a blade of grass owned by a native Irish person in the country.
Sniffs the air cos there’s an awful smell of BS all of a sudden
@David Lawlor: Of course there is. It’s always in plentiful supply here at The Journal.
Once again we have to turn to the UK newspapers to tell us whats happening in this rotten little state. Shameful.
@The Risen: no we don’t… it’s a .uk spin pile of shite … rubbish journalism
@John Kelly: ‘A UK pile of shyte” based on court papers? The only shyte is what’s coming from FG supporters
The ODPC enforces laws. I thought the alleged lobbying was at the law-making level?
I’m not a fan of Enda Kenny or a supporter, but remember, this report just happens to come out now, from a pro Brexit anti Irish source. I’ll wait and see how it develops before I condemn Kenny on this issue. There has never been anything in his career to indicate he’s corrupt so even if he did do he most likely was thinking of jobs for the country, like he’s supposed to do.. If it happened, it’s a misjudgenent on his part, but in the interest of fairness let’s wait and see.
@James Wallace: The Observer is a left-wing decidedly anti-Brexit newspaper with a high reputation for accuracy.
Incidentally, it is also generally sympathetic towards Ireland.
@James Wallace: Report actually comes out of Court documents in California, It`s not made up by an pro Brexit and anti Irish source though.
Unless you are privy to info the rest of us aren`t.
@Brendan Greene: James just got schooled…
Of course not blueshirts
If it quacks like a duck,and walks like a duck, ITS A DUCK.
Of course not blueshirts never would they seek to influence
Well in fairness he did say ‘categorically’ so he must be telling the truth.
It would be very hard to ask him anytime now he never in work if I don’t go to work I don’t get paid
He was always alittle weasel cosying up to the Yanks and acting like Darby O Gill in the White House on Paddy’s Day.
@Jonathan Beatty:
“If he were innocent…”
Fair play Jonathan.
Get the slander in immediately.
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