- Isle Maree
Isle Maree (
Scottish Gaelic : Eilean Maolruibhe) is an island inLoch Maree ,Scotland .It has the remains of a
chapel , graveyard, holy well, and holy tree on it, believed to be the 8th century hermitage of SaintMaol Rubha (d. 722), who founded the monastery ofApplecross in 672. The same island also contains ancient stands ofoak andholly which have been linked with ancient Scottishdruid s. The waters of the loch were also thought to have curative effects, with being submerged in the water thought to be a cure for lunacy.In the 17th century the
Presbytery of Dingwall was disturbed by reports of several rituals, evidently of pagan origin, such as the sacrificing of bulls, on an island in Loch Maree. These revolved round a debased memory of Máelrubai, whose legacy had perhaps become mixed with an ancient pre-Christian cult of 'God Mourie'.Wish tree
On the island of St
Maol Rubha orSt Maree , inLoch Maree ,Gairloch in the Highlands is anoak Wish Tree made famous by a visit in 1877 byQueen Victoria and its inclusion in her published diaries. The tree, and others surrounding it, are festooned with hammered in coins. It is near the healing well of St Maree, to which votive offerings were made. Records show that bulls were sacrificed openly up until the 18th centurySharp, Mick (1997). Holy Places of Celtic Britain. Blandford. ISBN 1-85079-315-8. P. 149.]References
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