Many of Ireland’s forests and woodlands have a rich cultural heritage with connections to a bye gone era. Today one can frequently come across the evidence of human habitation from pre-historic times down to the modern day, tombs and artefacts to more recent structures that are of national and local historical significance.
Ireland has been inhabited for almost 10,000 years and as a result the country is rich in the physical remains of human occupation. Many of these sites occur on forest land or lands likely to be developed for forestry. Archaeological […]
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Apart from archaeological sites, there are many old structures (built heritage) in Irish forests. These date from 1700 AD which is regarded as the end of Medieval Ireland and the start of the early Modern Period. Buildings of note later […]
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In addition to archaeology and built heritage, forests also contain cultural features that are sometimes unique or important to the locality. Examples are mass paths, holy wells, wart stones, rag trees, pilgrim routes etc. These are often not recorded […]
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The earliest Irish poets handed down their works in an oral tradition. Often, their inspiration came from trees and forests and many of their public performances might easily have relied upon trees for shade and shelter. This regard for nature […]
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Trees have featured in Irish history and folklore since earliest times, from the letters of the ancient Ogham alphabet, to the protection trees under the Brehon laws, to the belief in the sacred and magical properties of certain native tree […]
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Wood offers a fascination, beauty and complexity of grain that makes it particularly suitable as an artistic medium. It is used by woodworkers to create traditional and modern styles of useful items such as cabinets, furniture and musical instruments and also by artists for wood […]
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