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Sealed with Irish love

Irish Gifts & Homeware

The Irish Fairy Tree

Sheep and windswept hawthorn trees in Galway

Outside Dunmore, East Galway, Ireland

One of the hand drawn illustrations on the Sealed with Irish Love range is a windswept hawthorn tree. This can be seen in most counties in the west of Ireland. It is often called a fairy tree and considered bad luck to cut down. Cluricaunes (leprechauns), Púca’s (spirits/ghosts) and strange white-clad women are said to appear close to the trees or bushes. Many roads wind around these fairy trees, because in the past it was deemed far safer to divert a road than to cut the magical tree!. In 1999 the upgrading of the National road from Limerick was rerouted and caused major delays because of the location of a fairy tree. It was said by a local folklorist that the tree was a meeting point between the faeries of Munster and the faeries of Connaught!. A lovely tree to admire but don’t be tempted to remove any branches or the Púka’s could be after you!.

“Faeries, come take me out of this dull world,
For I would ride with you upon the wind,
Run on the top of the dishevelled tide,
And dance upon the mountains like a flame.”

W.B. Yeats, The Land of Heart’s Desire

Windswept Hawthorn Tree, Connemara, Ireland

Windswept Hawthorn Tree, Connemara, Ireland

Creative Irish Gifts

Irish Mug – Fairy Tree Illustration