29/10/2026
THE HAUNTED TREE - FINNIS
In the early 20th century, an evil spirit was rumoured to haunt the area around the Dree Hill Road bridge in the heart of Finnis, which spans the upper reaches of the River Lagan. Nearby stood a majestic sycamore tree. Understanding the fear this bridge instilled in his parishioners, the village priest attempted to exorcise the spirit and successfully captured it in a bottle. He then concealed the bottle within the hollow of the sycamore tree.
The spirit remained trapped, and the bridge was freed from its hauntings. From that day on, the people of Finnis, knowing the tree's role in the exorcism, avoided touching it and ensured that no one else dared to do so either. When power and telephone lines were being installed in the village, the tree obstructed progress, prompting the priest to intervene and prevent the workers from cutting it down. Consequently, the cables were routed through the tree's upper branches instead. Even after the tree had died, it remained untouched for years.
The remainder of the tree was lost in a storm in 2009, marking the end of an era for the local community.
