‘Miracle’ tree stump - Let them believe

In times of recession, trouble and strife, people tend to turn to religion and spirituality. In the 1980s the Cork village of Ballinspittle was the focus of mass hysteria. Thousands visited the Marian shrine there in the belief the statue of the Virgin Mary was seen moving.

Now people are contending that an image of the Virgin Mary can be seen in the stump of a tree in Rathkeale, Co Limerick. Just how anyone would recognise the Virgin Mary is another matter.

“There is nothing there, it’s just a tree,” local priest Fr Willie Russell said. “You can’t worship a tree.”

There have been numerous instances of moving statues and perceived apparitions around the country. Some have seized on such happenings as an opportunity to generate business for the locality.

Ireland has undergone a distinct religious transformation in recent years. People may argue over whether this is a consequence of the Celtic Tiger economy.

Attendances at Sunday masses have fallen dramatically, which is likely to leave a certain social void in many people lives. The Church provided a sense of focus where people gathered and shared experiences of life.

Psychologists suggest that people need something to believe in. Let them believe.