| You can plant trees grown in pots at any time of | | | | County. Of course, as the spiritual and |
| year but winter is the time to put in bare-rooted | | | | ecclesiastical centre of Ireland it also is associated |
| trees. | | | | with St. Patrick. The classic Irish dessert is apple |
| For instance, if you plant an apple tree now you | | | | tart, flaky shortcrust pastry enveloping sweet |
| need to cut a four-foot by four-foot hole. Put in | | | | local apples grown in the Loughall district. Apples, |
| plenty of well-rotted manure. Then add compost | | | | as well as turnips, are used in divination games at |
| and heel in the tree. | | | | Halloween. |
| You want to keep the area around it as weed | | | | 4. Yew - This tree can live for millennia or more |
| free as possible. You can put geotex (a | | | | and is frequently found in graveyards. There is a |
| breathable liner that is a weed suppressant) down. | | | | tradition that the cemetery yew grew a root |
| Then in spring cut holes and plant in some chives | | | | around every corpse. Because it is evergreen and |
| and wallflowers. The chives will deter scab and the | | | | so hardy it symbolises eternal life. Along with holly, |
| wallflowers will attract bees to pollinate the tree. | | | | it was the wood favoured by Celtic warriors. |
| Irish has two words to indicate a tree, crann, and | | | | 5. Ash - Both the Norse and the Celts viewed the |
| to indicate sacred trees, bile. Here's a list of the | | | | tall ash as Yggdrasil, the Tree of Life. When cut it |
| seven sacred trees of Ireland that might help you | | | | bleeds red sap. Because of its wide-spreading |
| choose a tree. | | | | roots this species, along with the Yew, is |
| By planting a tree you help mop up that CO2! | | | | associated with the Underworld. Because of this |
| Out of those sacred trees there are seven that | | | | and the magical associations with fairies the ash |
| are considered the chieftain trees, totems for | | | | was known as the 'door opener'. While very |
| clans. The tradition grew out of each local | | | | strong, it is also flexible. Along with willow it is a |
| settlement surrounding a single tree. The forests | | | | popular material for basket making. |
| were revered because they gave so much | | | | 6. Holly - This winter evergreen is associated with |
| sustenance. The trees gave nuts and berries for | | | | the battle between the Holly and Oak Kings at |
| gathering. They also were the habitat for game | | | | Winter Solstice. Because of its warrior attributes it |
| that was hunted. They provided medicine when | | | | signifies courage. Yet, because it is sacred to the |
| they were ill. Trees also became the first | | | | waning year it has a more meditative side as well. |
| alphabet, the ogham, used in Ireland. Lastly, they | | | | This is the tree of the Spiritual Warrior rather |
| could be cut to provide fuel to light both the | | | | than the soldier. |
| hearth and the sacred fires at festivals. | | | | 7. Pine - This species was one of the first to |
| Trees supported the Old Irish in body, mind and | | | | wood the isle of Erin. This is the other evergreen |
| spirit. It is little wonder that trees are so rooted in | | | | tree that comes into own at Winter Solstice. Pine |
| the Irish psyche. | | | | oil is a great cleansing agent. The aroma of pine |
| 1. Oak - from the Irish duir, which can be | | | | needles freshen the air and clear the lungs. While |
| translated at door. The oak is associated with | | | | Holly battles oak for supremacy, pine is the |
| County Derry and the oak is also associated with | | | | peaceful, contemplative and deeply spiritual |
| one of Ireland's three premier saints - St. | | | | presence of winter. |
| Columcille of Donegal. Oak's strength is manifest | | | | Take a walk in the woods and get to know these |
| not just in its use as a building material but also | | | | trees. In a fairly short space of time you will find |
| spirituality. Oak leaves crown depictions of The | | | | yourself admiring the beauty of one particular |
| Green Man or Man of the Wildwood. Along with | | | | species. This may well be you own family's |
| Hawthorn and Ash it is alleged to be the favoured | | | | chieftain tree. Take a walk and see if a tree |
| habitation for fairies. | | | | decides to share its totemic power. |
| 2. Hazel - Hazel is rather magical. Hazel nuts fed | | | | Tree planting is a good way to offset one's |
| the salmon of wisdom. When the salmon had has | | | | carbon debt. If you don't have a garden consider |
| his fill of these nine hazel nuts, he was also full of | | | | giving a tree as a gift. One Christmas we |
| knowledge. Hazel rods are also used for water | | | | presented friends with oak and birch trees for the |
| divining. The Irish superhero Fionn MacColl is the | | | | daughters, a beech to mum and a maple to dad, |
| "fair son of Hazel" so areas associated with his | | | | who has family in Canada. Or you can help plant a |
| adventures will also resonate with the spiritual | | | | forest. Ireland is one of the most deforested |
| energy of the Hazel. | | | | countries in Europe. |
| 3. Apple - County Armagh is Ireland's Orchard | | | | |