Ireland's Trees & Mythology

Thankyou!

Nettle, known as 'neantóg' in Irish, is a nutritious plant and vital part of our ecosystem that supports over 40 species of insects 🦋

In parts of England, people once believed that grasping a nettle and pulling it from the ground would cure a family member suffering from fever 🌿

That's very nice to hear!

I really like that traditions like this can linger on!

This little lady lives along the path to one of Ireland's most wonderful stone circles....and she's always watching....

They are also very good when it comes to transporting you to other more magical places 🪄

With it's red berries the Rowan is known for its protective qualities against fire and fairies 🍒

It was common to keep a sprig in the home to ward off fairies that sought to set fire to the building and in Scotland its wood was included in the construction of chimneys to protect the home 🔥

Thankyou good to see you and I appreciate that!

I'm going to do my best I just struggle with getting to the point quickly with the small word count 😂

"The old women are most learned, but will not readily talk, for the fairies are very secretive, and much resent being talked of"

W.B. Yeats

🎨 Cicely Mary Barker

A tale tells of how a young, colourless snow once begged the flowers to share with it their colours but was refused by all except for the humble Snowdrop who eagerly shared its bright white with the snow ❄️

In return the snow protected the Snowdrop during the cold and promised to never harm it 🩵

Má dhá Cheo "The Plain of the Two Mists" an enchanted place in Irish mythology that we can only hope to reach...some people believe that by simply wanting to be there a part of us will be ☁️

Ray Church was founded in the 6th Century a little way from Falcarragh in County Donegal....and just a little more than 1000 years later the congregation were massacred by the troops of Oliver Cromwell.

The folk were buried in a mass grave known as Lag na gCnámh' or 'Resting Place of the Bones'

In Irish folklore the Elder was feared and its magic often centred on threats to children...

It was once firmly believed that a crib made from Elder wood would invite disaster and that the fairies, whose dwelling had been disturbed, would sicken the baby...and in time steal the child away 🧚🏻‍♀️🔥

When these three (bad haircuts & all) and their little sister walk through these Donegal mountains in decades to come the view couldn't be more different to what it is now. Reducrd grazing is allowing the scraps of existing rainforest to expand and I just wish I could be there to see it with them 🌳☘️

It's beautiful ☘️💚 I spend a lot of my life in those hills ....cutting Laurel

🤣

At least I told you before Halloween!!!!

Now you have time to mull it over 🤔🎃

Barnstokkr was an Oak 🌳 in Norse myth that grew within the Hall of King Vǫlsungr, it's canopy reaching out towards the sky ☀️

During a feast, a bare foot, hooded & one eyed stranger entered & plunged a sword deep into the 🌳

Nobles tried in turn but none except the King's son could pull it free 👁️🗡️

We could all use a little help ....I did forget to mention that the price is your soul 👻

Which I suppose is quite important ....

🤣 no heel clicking required here!!!

Thankyou! I struggle with short posts but I'm trying!

Exactly! 👻🎃

A doorway composed of Hawthorn, Elder and even a Bramble Arch....there is every chance that if you pass through here you will not find yourself standing in the field that you see 🌾✨

In Ireland, the Bramble is called Dris and now that it is August and Halloween isn't too far away it is time to start looking for your own Bramble arch 🌿🎃

If you crawl through it on Samhain it will give you the power to summon demons who will do your bidding for the night 👹👻

It's such a beautiful flower! I think most just presume them to be buttercups 🌼

It's magical ....

Bird's-foot trefoil is a favourite among pollinators in Ireland and has more colloquial names than any other flowering plant with a personal favourite being "Granny's Toenails" ✨

Children once brought it to class in their pockets to protect against the malign attentions of overly strict teachers 💛

Ribwort grows by footpaths, rivers...anywhere really. Good news for the pollinators who adore it 🐝🦋

Chewed up & applied to battle wounds it is believed that this plant has strong curative powers⚔️

But be careful as if the wind changes as a person picks it they will descend into madness 🧚🏻‍♂️✨

In Norse folklore, the Foxglove was a gift to the foxes from mischievous fairies🌷🌿

Intended as socks to cushion & silence the feet of the fox allowing them to quietly enter the chicken coop of an unsuspecting human 🦊🩷

🍵🔥