Tree Stump Worshipped in Rathkeale

TV3 Report featuring a few escapees from the local mental home.

http://bigmentaldisease.com/

*NEWS JUST IN* ISLAMIC EXTREMISTS HAVE FLOWN TWO JUMBO JETS INTO THE STUMP, BELIEVING IT TO BE A BLASPHEMY ON THE PROPHET WHOSE NAME I CAN'T BE BOTHERED TO TYPE. ALL OF RATHKEALE ERUPTED IN A BALL OF FLAMES, EVERYTHING HAS BEEN BURNT TO A CRISP. SO THAT'S AN IMPROVEMENT IN THE TOWN'S APPEARANCE AT LEAST.

**Angry people from Rathkeale: Get over it. Have a sense of humour.**

Here's a report from the Irish Independent

HOW little times change: 1985 -- recession, unemployment and a moving statue of the Virgin Mary in Ballinspittle, Co Cork.

Fast forward 24 years: recession, unemployment and the Virgin Mary in a tree stump in Rathkeale, Co Limerick.

In their hundreds and from across the country, pilgrims are flocking to St Mary's Church grounds in the west Limerick town to pray and touch the willow tree stump, which many claim depicts an image of the Blessed Virgin.

Candlelit rosaries continued last night in Rathkeale and locals have pledged to keep a 24-hour vigil to ensure that nobody removes the tree stump.

Workmen employed on a FAS scheme were contracted to remove the 80-year-old willow tree on Monday evening as its branches were overhanging a primary school.

Chairman of Rathkeale Community Council Noel White recalled the moment the image was seen.

"The wood was rotten and they were cutting away when one of the lads working on it, Anthony Reddin, said, 'Look, there's the Virgin Mary.' Immediately, another one of the lads knelt down, blessed himself and began praying," Mr White said.

"About 30 minutes later, a crowd had gathered," he said.

But scepticism remains even among the most devout of Catholics. Local priest Fr Willie Russell has said, "There's nothing there . . . it's just a tree. You can't worship a tree."

Rathkeale parish priest, Fr Joe Dempsey is away on a fortnight's holidays but over 2,000 people have signed a petition to prevent the tree's removal. Those praying at the stump yesterday were in no doubt of what was before them.


Hope

Seamus Hogan who runs a gift and toy shop in the town said people from all walks of life arrived into Rathkeale.

"We had American and Swedish tourists here last night and people from all over the country. If all they are looking for in these times is hope and this is where they finding it, in a piece of wood, then God knows that is a good thing," Mr Hogan said.

"The Catholic Church needs something like this at the moment and if this gives hope and inspiration, then that is great. We have people suffering from cancer here, people on wheelchairs and those with walking aids, it is amazing," he added.

Carmel Conway and her mother, Bridget travelled from Lixnaw, Co Kerry.

"I think it is real," Carmel said. "Even if it isn't, if it makes people pray, that is a good thing," she said.

Pensioner James Richardson stopped off en route from St Ita's nursing home in Newcastle West, Co Limerick to a medical appointment to pray at the scene. He said he felt better having seen the stump.

Local man, Frank Markham said: "It is getting young people into the church that never went. I haven't missed Mass here in over 70 years and this has strengthened my belief."

Another man who asked not to be identified said he travelled from West Cork to pray to be reunited with his ex-girlfriend. "If it helps, it will have been worth it," he said.

Plans are now being made to have a glass case placed around the wooded stump to protect it from the elements.


http://www.independent.ie/national-news/searching-for-a-grain-of-comfort-1815...

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• Rathkeale
• Limerick
• Ireland
• Tree Stump
• tree stump
• idiots
• retards
• superstition
• mental patients
• mary
• holy
• religion
• vision
• christianity
• religious
• father ted
• dimwits

[Frenious]

The popup comments by the uploader are about as lame and retarded as the people in the vid

[bigmentaldisease]

@Frenious And almost as lame and retarded as your awful workout vids!

[MrNintoku]

Hey worshipping a tree stump is no more crazy than worshipping something that no one has never seen, heard or touched in more than 2000 years.

[goinghomesomeday1]

@loner1878 -- I can see Bart Simpson.

[loner1878]

This vid doesn't help the drunk Irish stereotype...

[loner1878]

1:11 does anyone else see a shark?

[mAwesome334]

Wow, I actually thought this was from THE Onion haha

[thetruekingoffrance]

sect dem all or sometin

[Wolfsquad1337]

@bigmentaldisease Idk.....they were a little annoying but......you had some good ones in there so I say the pop ups were worth it

[BigCalSuth]

God doesnt see it as harmless he sees it as a sin. You might think ot harmless because you dont know your bible... Most dont understand or know old testament. Continue thinking its harmless until judgment day when u got a lot of explaining to do.

[squamish4244]

People need something to believe in. Seems pretty harmless. And the accents are cool.

[BigCalSuth]

Idolatry... To which the very God you claim to worship detests. Mary never once proclaims herself a saint or takes worship. But pagans make there idols and worship them. The very structure of Carholicism is pagan starting at the Pope. Every cult has a human leader at the head and issues with blood.