The Spanish Chestnut Tree. St Patricks Church Cairncastle

The Spanish Chestnut tree. It is widely believed that the tree grew on the spot where a shipwrecked Spanish sailor was buried at the time of the Spanish Armada in 1588. According to local folklore, the sailor’s body was washed up in Ballygally Bay and brought up to the churchyard for burial. The tree then grew from a chestnut in his pocket (chestnuts were eaten by sailors to ward off scurvy on their long voyages). The grave of another drowned Spanish sailor exists in nearby Glenarm. Analysis of the tree found it dates back to the 16th century, also giving credence to the local legend.

The tree came down in 2020 (due to rotting of the roots) but shoots are now growing from the remaining stump.