County Champion Trees

Irish Tree Trivia

Through a process called photosynthesis, trees capture carbon from the air, and using the energy from sunlight, convert it into food and tissue. Trees capture more carbon from the air than other single organism on earth

As part of photosynthesis, trees release oxygen back out into the air. In fact trees produce more oxygen than any other single living organism.

While most timber can float in water, ebony wood, used for making black piano keys, will sink.

The rowan or mountain ash is a lucky tree. It was said that it will keep away witches if planted near a house, or will keep the dead from rising if planted on a grave.

Elder was cursed by God because, as tradition has it, it was the tree that Judas hanged himself on. The leaves have a horrid smell and the timber is very weak, and if a child is struck with an elder stick they will never grow any taller.

The hawthorn is the fairy tree. It is extremely unlucky to cut down a lone hawthorn, as the fairies will have their revenge.

Holly planted near the house protects it from lightning. The fairies like it too and you can annoy them if you misuse holly by, for instance, sweeping the chimney with it.

The birch tree was traditionally used to make babies’ cradles. It was very good at protecting the baby from the fairies who might want to steal it.

The oak tree was a symbol of strength and fertility and is considered to be the king of trees.

The hazel tree is the tree of wisdom. The salmon of knowledge got his wisdom by eating the nuts of the hazel trees that grew on the banks of the Boyne, and in turn passed it on to Fionn Mac Cumhail.

To this day, hazel rods are used by water diviners seeking underground springs.

Blackthorn trees give blackthorn sticks known as shillelaghs. They are particularly strong and were much used long ago as weapons in fights.

Pine trees burn well, and the Yule logs burned at Christmas were usually pine logs.

Elm wood was traditionally used to make coffins, as it is resistant to damp.

The leaves of the aspen tree shake in the lightest breeze. Because of this, it was used to cure diseases that made people shake. By nailing a piece of your hair to the tree, you could get the tree to shake and shiver instead of you, and in this way, you would be cured.

The juniper tree is a lucky one to bring into the house as it is reputed to protect from fire.

Trees are good for the mind, body and soul! Research in North America has found that patients in hospital rooms with a view of trees recover quicker from surgery require fewer painkillers and get home sooner!

Some of us are named after trees. First names such as Holly, Hazel, Rowan and Darragh, and Irish surnames such as Ashe, Birch, Coll, Mc Cullen, Woods, Mac Dara, Thornton and Skehan, are all based on trees.

Ash is one of our most widely planted broadleaves. It has been used for centuries for making hurleys. One hectare of ash woodland can produce 3,800 hurleys.

Cricket bats are made from willow trees. Sally rods also come from willow trees.