Under the Hawthorn Tree
The story of Under the Hawthorn Tree is about three brave young children, Eily who is twelve, Michael who is ten and Peggy who is seven, who try to survive during the time of the famine in the 1840’s. The book tells of their courage while making their journey to Castletaggart to find their great aunts, Nano and Lena, where they would be safe and have food. Ten month old Bridget dies of famine fever and is buried under the Hawthorn tree in the garden. In Irish mythology, the hawthorn is linked with the otherworld.
Mr Mc Keown’s 5th class have been reading the novel over the past few weeks and they painted trees for their noticeboard.