That detail alone sets it apart from the broader tradition of rag trees, which typically stand near a well rather than growing out of its very fabric. The thorn, most often a hawthorn, holds a particular place in Irish folk belief as a threshold plant, one associated with the otherworld and with protection, which may partly explain why certain trees growing close to holy wells were treated as sacred objects in their own right.

A report from 1977 noted that rags had been tied to the bush, a practice common at sites of this kind across Ireland. Strips of cloth, usually taken from a garment belonging to someone seeking healing or relief, were left at the tree after the well had been visited and prayers said, with the belief that as the rag decayed, so too would the ailment. By the time of a later inspection, no rags were visible, and the practice appears to have fallen out of use at this particular site. Whether that reflects a gradual fading of local custom or simply a shift in how the well and its surroundings are now regarded is difficult to say with certainty.