The Ballyeglish Society

This is the new logo for our group. It is a stylised version of the hawthorn tree planted by Rev. Anthony Conwell in 1805.

The Conwell hawthorn is such a historically important tree that it deserves great public recognition. There is no other tree known in Ireland, or anywhere else, that can be said to have been planted by a priest who first fought at The Battle of Culloden before taking holy orders.

The tree itself is an anomaly, sitting as it does upon a natural thoroughfare within the burial ground. It also has a perfectly spiralled trunk, which has provided the inspiration for our logo. As far as hawthorn trees go, you will travel a long way before encountering any other example of the genus that is as fine.

The Woodland Trust has this to say about hawthorns;

All hawthorn will be ancient from 225 years onwards, although many will have ancient characteristics from around 175 years.

The Conwell hawthorn will be 219 years old in the summer of 2024. That’s a lot of candles. The 225th birthday, in 2030 will be one to celebrate. Sure doesn’t everyone want to live long enough to be regarded as ancient?

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