Recently, The Ballyeglish Society placed a fine plaque to commemorate the planting of a hawthorn tree on 23rd June 1805, by the Rev. Arthur Anthony Conwell.
Due to the discovery of an inscription found on the previously buried edge of a grave slab within the Cowell enclosure, the anomalous hawthorn was found to have been placed there the day prior to the funeral of the Rev. Eugene Conwell, grand-nephew of the Rev. Anthony.
The “Old Priest,” as he was known (presumably only towards the later years of his life), was 94 years of age when planting the tree. It might well be supposed that someone else did the digging for him although, given the events of his life, we shouldn’t be surprised if he decided to undertake the task himself. He appears to have been a very driven and determined person.
Whoever did the actual digging, the tree has survived for 219 years, raising many questions throughout that time as to why it was there at all. The Ballyeglish Society is hopeful that the new stainless steel plaque, recessed into a piece of local basalt found close by, and positioned at the base of the hawthorn, will answer those questions for visitors. It’s also just one more feature for those who dander through Ballyeglish Old Graveyard to have themselves photographed beside.
(Note the fine detail of the spiralled trunk of the Conwell hawthorn, and the splash of colour that both daffodils and new work bring to this ancient religious site)
The plaque was funded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund.
Bígí linn
The Ballyeglish Society 
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