Category: Explore

Scots Pine (Pinus sylvestris) is one of Ireland’s three native conifers along with Juniper and Yew. Pollen found in soil samples indicate the existence of Scots Pine forests in Ireland 9,500 years ago following glacial retreat. We can estimate it has thrived two or three times since the last ice age in land which is now blanket bog.

 In past centuries of changing climates these wetlands would have undergone dry periods sufficient for forests to thrive. When rainfall increased and these forests succumbed to wetlands once more certain more durable woods didn’t decay and instead remained preserved in the anaerobic environment of the bog. This results in the particular bog preserved wood often found today such as bog oak, bog yew and in the case of Scots Pine: bog deal the wood this sculpture has been wrought from. Scots Pine has proven to be a useful resource as it provides long straight trunks for building; often used as roof timbers, lintels or beams. A characteristic that sets Scots Pine aside is its resonance and it has historically been used as the soundboard for harps.

Ogham is an ancient Irish alphabet likely created between the second and fourth centuries AD and is the oldest recorded form of written Irish. Ogham is read from bottom to top, with each notch or series of notches representing a sound in the Irish language. It is most 

commonly found written along the edges of standing stones, of which Munster has the highest concentration of documented sites.

Alder (Alnus Glutinosa) is the third consonant of the Ogham Alphabet and the sound equivalent of our letter ‘F’. According to an old Irish tradition it was believed that the first man sprang from an alder tree. However despite this the tree was considered unlucky and an ill omen to pass while travelling, possibly due to the colour change 

of the wood once felled, which turns from white to a bloodlike red.

The Ogham Tree Trail seeks to increase awareness and appreciation of the importance of our native trees and their connection with the Ancient Ogham alphabet and Brehon Laws. The Ogham alphabet was deciphered by local Bishop Charles Graves (of Parknasilla, Sneem) in the 19th century. Bishop Graves also played a key role in promoting understanding of the Brehon Laws. The connection with Bishop Graves will also be exploited and used to promote the connection of the Ogham alphabet and the Brehon Laws to Sneem and the surrounding areas.

The Ogham alphabet is linked to a range of Native Irish Trees. We seek to create a sculpture for each tree using found wood from the tree and incorporating an Ogham letter in iron along with carved/wrought iron seeds and leaves. Each sculpture will have a sign giving the origins of the Ogham letter and the importance in which the tree was held in Brehon Law. The sculptures will be erected close to the living trees. Where possible, we will select veteran trees.