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Trees Are Life: Irish Gifts with Deep Roots

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The iconic tree of life motif appears on many Irish gifts from elegant Belleek pieces to earthy pottery to dazzling Celtic jewelry. Its branches sweep in an arch down to the roots, which curve up to complete the circle around the trunk. It might seem an odd motif for an island with so little forested land, but once upon a time, Ireland was covered in trees. And our ancestors revered those trees.


A lone oak tree in Killarney National Park, Ireland
A lone oak tree in Killarney National Park, Ireland

Brehon Law and Trees

Ireland’s ancient Brehon law has very specific rules about trees. It shows how important they were to our ancestors. They ranked trees, and the penalty for damaging a tree depended on its rank. What we now refer to as the Old Irish Tree List includes four categories of tree.

  • Nobels of the Wood – Oak, Hazel, Holly, Yew, Ash, Scots Pine, Crab Apple
  • Commoners of the Wood – Alder, Willow, Hawthorne, Rowan, Birch, Elm, Cherry
  • Lower Orders of the Wood – Blackthorn, Elder, Spindle, Whitebeam, Arbutus, Aspen, Juniper
  • Shrubs of the Wood – Bracken, Bog Myrtle, Furze, Bramble, Heather, Broom, Wild Rose

They believed each species of tree had distinct qualities beyond their physical traits. Oak was important to druids, fairies and royalty. Rowan offered protection from harm. In addition to nuts, Hazel was believed to provide wisdom.

These spiritual qualities made trees important enough to use as a complex symbol that has endured centuries to appear on Irish gifts today. The tree of life represents the cycle of life, death and rebirth. It symbolizes the connections between the generations of a family and how the old roots nourish the young branches.

Irish tree on a misty morning
Irish tree on a misty morning

Belleek Tree of Life Pottery


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Other Important Trees

The Brehon class of ancient times weren’t the only Irish people to value trees. Even after the massive deforestation that occurred under British colonial rule, individual trees have been held in high esteem.


An Irish Rag Tree
A Rag Tree with scraps of cloth

Holy wells around Ireland often have a tree near them festooned with scraps of cloth. Known as ‘rag trees’, they are believed to offer a connection. People praying for a cure to an illness or relief from some other misfortune would visit the holy well and tie a bit of fabric to the tree.

Celtic Tree of Life Jewelry

  • Image from Ireland

14k Gold with Diamonds and Emerald Tree of Life Earrings
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Fairy trees are harder to spot, but just as much – if not more – fiercely protected. While God might be merciful, the fairies generally are not. Disturbing their home is unacceptable. It is inviting terrible bad luck. Roads have been routed to avoid disturbing fairy trees in Ireland.

Image from Ireland
Trees in an Irish Fairy Ring

The trees and shrubs of Ireland played another historic role. In the brutal days of Penal Law, which Catholicism and the Irish language were basically outlawed, the hedgerows that line fields and roads in rural Ireland sheltered secret schools. The Education Act of 1695 made it illegal for Catholics to teach. Technically, the use of Irish was only banned in courtrooms, but in reality the use of the language was violently repressed. (And the law that banned Irish in court proceedings was only repealed in Northern Ireland this year.) Hidden in the safety of the hedgerows, children could be educated in their own language and faith.

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