Eye-catching mural in Roscrea!

Roscrea Tidy Towns are delighted with the mural at Church Street/Castle Street Junction. The work is a co-operative effort between Tipperary County Council, the homeowner and Roscrea Tidy Towns.

The choice of image was an agreed one between all parties, especially the owner of the premises.

It is a most appropriate one, not only filling the area better than any other option, but also from its Celtic history - a snippet of the story follows.

The hare was a sacred and mystical animal to the Celts; a symbol of abundance, prosperity and good fortune. Hares were believed to have connections to the otherworld. They were treated with great respect and never eaten. A group of hares is called a drove, a down or a husk and they are well known for their boxing antics around the mating season in March.

St Melangell, an Irish princess who became an abbess in Wales, is the patron saint of hares. One might call her the female version of St Francis as she loved and cared for all animals. She also has a parallel story to St Bridget in that she got a gift of land for her monastery from the local prince.