European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - September 29, 1994, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Ireland Mac Ken Sbar and sip on a drink while browsing for a coffin by Deborah Absher staff writer Only in Ireland can you make funeral arrangements for a loved one and drown your sadness with a Stout without Ever leaving the bar Stool Macken s bar and undertaker in the Southeast seaport town of Wexford has been putting Down bodies and setting up spirits for More than 50 years. The family business also Sells funeral wreaths and take away liquor and has a thriving Corner grocery adjoining the cozy bar which usually is packed whether it s monday morning or a weekend night rollicking with traditional Irish music. Eddie and Marie Macken run the multipurpose operation today in a downtown building that once was part of a military Barracks. Marie Macken also bakes Brown soda bread daily and Sells it at the grocery and to local restaurants. When she overheard a tourist s remark about being hungry she produced slices of her fresh bread along with cheese Gratis. -.  " ". Tourists startled by the unusual business combination Stop to take pictures peek inside and end up spending the Day drinking pints of Beer and chatting with the Friendly owners and regular customers. Eddie Macken s father con started the business As a pub and grocery in the 1940s. The father s name is intact Over the Corner Entrance. There were Only two undertakers in town at the � Gold Label time said Eddie Macken a Cousin of Ireland s famed show jumping jockey by the same name one was a Good Friend of my father s and when he retired he asked my father to take it Over. My father was t keen part it at All but he agreed to keep the business going however it was two years before he did a  after con Macken s death in 1979, his son Bernard took Over the undertaking business which has since moved from above the pub. However the Brothers continue to run the businesses closely Bernard Macken also has a Floral business so those making funeral arrangements can take care of All the details with one Stop at the pub if they wish. People still come into the pub to make arrangements for the funeral Eddie Macken said. Then they come Back Here to the bar for the drinks after the funeral. That s the Way it  Marie Macken puts it a different Way Eddie lifts their spirits and Bernard puts them  s4s Deborah Aba her an unusual All in one business a combined pub undertaker and convenience store is a popular gathering spot in downtown Wexford above. Eddie and Marie Macken serve spirits on the bar Side of the family business left. Is Deborah Absher dreams Budon Raggedy Trees a Deborah Absher cloth rags a Teddy Bear and other Memorabilia weigh Down the rag tree Between Kilkenny and Kelts. By Deborah Absher staff writer in Rural Ireland a country where fairies arid fables still thrive a rag tree is said to have the Power to Grant wishes and prayers. It draws believers from throughout the area. The legend of the rag tree which locals Call the Raggedy tree or the fairy tree goes Back at least 100 years. The local folks also insist that it is the Only one of its kind in Ireland although other rag Trees with similar purported Powers exist in England and in Cyprus. The branches of the White Thorn tree on Kells Road Between the towns of Kilkenny and Kells in Southeast Freland afre bowed by the Burden of rag strips of every color and Type. Also tied to the branches Are Teddy bears flags Wool hats undergarments and socks. Alongside the tree is a holy Well which gives the rag tree another name As the prayer tree. Two stories prevail about the rag tree. The oldest Story says that the tree originated with Irish emigrating to other countries. If they tied a rag to the tree the Story goes it meant they would one Day return to Ireland. Even today immigrants returning to visit their Homeland make a trip to the tree to tie on another rag. The other Story says that if a rag is tied to the tree and is later gone it Means the fairies will Grant the wish there s an awful lot of different stories says Jim Lyons who lives with his wife Ann in the rag cottage the House nearest the rag tree on the narrow Road. It s kind of a wishing Bush. There s an awful lot of people who Stop to tie on a  Lyons warns though that it s unlucky to take anything off the tree or to take a part of the tree into your  alongside the rag tree Are the remnants of a holy Well which supposedly was blessed by St. Patrick the Patron Saint of Ireland. Two indentations on a Stone Are said to be the Marks of St. Patrick s Knees. Rag Trees Are not common in Ireland though. At some holy Wells such As the one in Cyprus the Trees Arev known As prayer Trees and pieces of cloth Are tied to the branches As offerings. A few rag Trees also exist in England. The Best known one is at Barnes common in South London. The Sycamore tree into which pop musician Marc Bolan crashed his car and died in 1973 is still regularly bedecked with Flowers fan letters and other Memorabilia. 72 stripes Magazine september 29, 1994