This is a view of the front of the church showing the decorative arch and the very old yew trees. The Irish yew is a distinct species (Taxus baccata "fastigiata") and was found growing as a separate species in Florencecourt estate just a few miles away from here in approx 1740 by a farmer called George Willis. He kept one for himself and gave one to his landlord Lord Erne. His died but Lord Erne's thrived and it is from this one tree that all Irish Yews in the world today are descended.
      The yew in Ireland has a lot of superstition associated with it and is commonly found planted in graveyards--all parts of it are poisonous and as a consequence was generally planted where cattle couldn't eat it. and also nobody would ever chop one down because to do so was associated with death -this I believe had its origin when tuberculosis was common

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