Irish Trees The Wild Flowers, Plants and Trees of Ireland

About this book

In ancient Ireland mythology and folklore were part of the general knowledge about each tree. This book gathers the myths, legends and folklore associated with the native Irish trees. The folklore has two main themes: the tree as a marker of important places such as a royal site or holy well, and the role of different trees as sources of magical power in folk customs and superstitions.

Contents

Introduction vii Aspects of Tree Folklore 1 Folklore of the Trees: Birch 22 Rowan 28 Alder 34 Willow 40 Cherry 46 Hawthorn 52 Oak 58 Holly 66 Hazel 72 Whitebeam 82 Apple 84 Buckthorn 90 Furze 92 Broom 98 Blackthorn 102 Elder 108 Pine 114 Ash 120 Elm 130 Aspen 134 Yew 138 Spindle 146 Juniper 148 Arbutus 152 Ogham - the Gaelic Tree Alphabet 154 An Ogham Tree Calendar 184 The Months as Contrasting Pairs 201 Postscript: The Universal Inspiration of Trees 203 References 207 Bibliography 221 Index 227

Customer Reviews

Biography

Niall Mac Coitir grew up in a bilingual environment and developed a great interest in Irish and Celtic history and folklore. His interest in tree folklore and the ogham alphabet led him to realize how little had been published on these related subjects.