Fairy Bushes

Throughout the Irish countryside there are single thorn bushes growing in the middle of otherwise open fields,  standing alone in the middle of golf courses, and in one case, on a small parcel of land where a highway had  to be constructed around one to avoid cutting it down.  People believe that the ' fairy  thorns ' are the homes of the fairies, and, if anyone tries to cut them down or damage them, it is likely they will die young, or become seriously ill. Golfers that hit them stop to apologize, while those who pass them offer a greeting and often make a wish.  The tradition is ages old, from the times when our ancestors worshiped the oak, ash, and thorn.  Legend holds that Christ's 'crown of thorns' came from the same bush. So be careful.