Back in 1798, while the struggle for Irish independence from England was waged, the Battle of Carlow was fought.
In Carlow Town, young men known as United Irishmen cropped their hair in a gesture of solidarity before the fighting began. After the battle, 640 of them were buried in a mass grave, which can still be seen today.
Two trees mark the spot, part of a trio planted by a widowed mother of three of the croppies. The third tree was shattered by a storm, but its pieces remain and bear an inscription to commemorate the bravery and integrity of the croppies.