SCHOOL: Newtown, Dunleckny | ADDRESS: Newtown, Co. Carlow
The story of Crush Bush
The following folk story entitled “Crush Bush” was told by a 5th. standard pupil whose name and address is :- Andrew Byrne, Ballydarton, Fenagh, Co. Carlow.
On the road leading from Fenagh to Myshall there is a crossroads, know in the surrounding districts as the “Taylor’s Cross”. At this cross there is a side road leading to the left, and about fifty yards up this road there is an overhanging bush. This bush is locally known as “Crush Bush” as the name of the townsland in which the bush is situated is Crush.
Much superstition exists in the local districts concerning this bush, as people are supposed to have seen strange sights and heard strange sounds when passing by it. In olden times there was a grave yard inside the fence where the bush grows. The remains of this can still be seen there.
This bush is also supposed to be haunted, and so strong is this belief that people are afraid to pass by it on dark nights near midnight.
For a long time past nobody has ever dared to cut down the bush, as those who, in former times attempted to do so, did not turn out very lucky afterwards.
A certain priest who attempted to destroy it, is said to have fallen seriously ill and died within a short time.
A local farmer who owned a threshing engine tied chains round the bush, and by means of the engine attempted to pull it up. He did so, but in a few days afterwards a valuable horse owned by the farmer was killed. The farmer seeing this, and fearing more bad luck, set the bush in place again, where it is still growing.
Several other superstitious stories of a similar nature are told in the surrounding districts, and “Crush Bush,” even to the present day, is an object of awe to most the rural population.
Bibliography
“The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0905, Page 207” by Dúchas © National Folklore Collection, UCD is licensed under CC BY-NC 4.0.