Local radio is reporting that residents in the west Limerick town of Rathkeale say an “outline” of the Virgin Mary has allegedly appeared on a tree in church grounds in the town.
The report says a number of people “noticed the outline of the Blessed Virgin in a tree cut down as part of a cleanup operation at a church” on Monday.
Live95FM says a large crowd had gathered at St. Mary’s church Monday night with a “steady flow of people today as the news spreads”.
A chairman of the local community council told local radio in an interview, “Certainly there was a figure of a lady, it was eerie looking i’ll be honest with you”, “It’s hard to describe it really; you’d nearly want to see it”.
Your grand thanks.
NEW DETAILS
Locals in the area have now signed a petition preventing the removal of the tree from the grounds of the church with some saying it’s a ‘divine intervention’.
It comes as a local priest calls for restraint.“There’s nothing there, it’s just a tree. People shouldn’t worship a tree”, Fr Willie Russell said.
NEW DETAILS
Almost 2,000 people in Rathkeale have now signed a petition to keep the tree stump as a permanent fixture where it stands on church grounds. We have been kindly sent on this image of the stump. This is what all the fuss is about…
This image can also be found, along with one other, on the Limerick Leader website at www.limerickleader.ie
Is she moving? Wecome back to the 1980s. Strikes, recession and towns using the Virgin Mary as a tourist attraction
“It appears to be a crude watercolour of a man in a bishop’s hat…”
Haha! Brilliant
This is what people beleive it is but it is up to every one that has seen the tree to beleive what ever they like it isnt doing any harm to anyone so people should not judge anyone for what they see it as it should be left there for who ever would like to take time and make there own judgment.
The only harm it is doing is making Irish people look like complete bloody idiots. I thaught we lived in the 21st century, not the middle ages. Was going out to lunch but there is lightning so the gods must be angry.
when the going gets tough,people turn to religion.
i bet the pick-pockets were busy when the fools were trying to see something that just wasn’t there.
you need to watch out for the weela-weelas.
It does do harm though.
If there is a such thing as a Real One of These, very good.
But when it’s clearly a nothing and it’s made out to be a something, then some people who have extreme faith, some people who have become hopeless and some people who are just fanatics, will do everything they can to see it. They’ll place all their stock in this lump of wood and they’ll get nothing in return.
How did Moses say it…no false tributes?
I feel moved by this latest miracle…….I bet Richard Dawkins is completely stumped with this discovery.
Classic comment!
I’m surprised that no-one within the Russian community inIreland has laid claim to this being the largest un-hollowed Russian doll ever found… either that or it’s the smallest one of a very large set.
Is it actual size? It reminds me of a rather scathing Brasseye episode:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lJWf4Ri5a-Y
Just how gullible do you have to believe this rubbish – respect to the priest for his (ironic if you think about it) ridicule of such stupidity. Of course if you believe in virgin births, and watchful eyes in the sky then, clearly, anything goes.
i was send to tell you that Mary was on holidays when this happened and instead, she wants you to worship him: http://chexydecimal.blogspot.com/2009/07/michael-jackson-appears-in-tree.html
** i presume it’s the same thing…
I once saw the face of Elvis on a hill side in Doolin. I swear I could hear “Fools Rush In” on the wind. It’s true.
VERY sceptical. So where is the opinion of a dendrologist? Or a tree surgeon? Let’s hear their factual opinion. Local curate Fr Willie Russell is right – it’s just a tree.
Not sure if anyone has like myself cut some timber in their time but I have never seen anything like this……..nobody would cull a tree like this. To cut down the bark and across a tree knot just makes this all the more ridiculous.
Excellent post Sean & the arcangel………I must say I have been crying with laughter since this story broke yesterday. One has to love Ireland at times like this.
Crazy
not all rathkeale people are pick pockets..its harmless out giving hope too many who need it …
Video report from TV3
http://www.tv3.ie/news.php?video=11131&locID=1.2.141
Does she have the medical card….