Ask the people who visited Ireland in what they remember about the country, and you always hear talk about how it’s green. What is surprising, because Ireland is now the land of trees in Europe. Indigenous forests of Ireland were effectively eliminated during a spree of four centuries, the removal of debris from trees that had been raised for the first time since the last ice age 10,000 years ago. When the last glacier moved from Ireland to the first trees to climb again cold tolerant – birch, willow and juniper. They were followed by the less cold-tolerant species. Deciduous forests of oak, elm, alder and ash covered the plains. Native spruce trees (eg pine) was raised in the mountains and on the poorest country in the West. There was an increase at this time that the first farmers began to cultivate in the old country between five and 6,000 years, was Ireland covered in deciduous and coniferous trees. The economy in Ireland in the Celtic was the forest. This great resource is the supplier of raw materials, drugs, weapons, tools, coal, food (in the form of berries, nuts, mushrooms, fruits, wild animals, insects and worms) and the basis for spirituality and wisdom. No other country has as many names of places connected with the forest.
Up to 40 000 are still present, which, without woods and forests, mean little to someone who knows the local history. There are many names associated with native deciduous trees (McIvor is the son of Yew, McCarthy’s son Rowan, McColl is the son of Hazel, among many others). The original alphabet, the former Irish Gaelic language of the native trees came to Ireland – Alim (elm), Beith (birch), Coll (Hazel) Dair (oak). When the Romans conquered most of Britain, Ireland says that two-thirds of the mixed forest. Despite the introduction of agriculture and the practice of tribal invasions, Gerald of Wales, a Norman, Ireland as part of the entourage of Henry II militarism of the late 12th Century came to Ireland in 1185 is a land of “many forests and swamps,” and is described here and there, although some levels, but compared with the forests in small indeed. Sweeney (the story of the 12th century Buile Suibhne) refers to the oak, hazel, alder, black hawthorn, blackthorn, cress, saxifrage, apple, Rowan, blackberries, ivy, holly, ash, birch and aspen. It was not until the 17th Century beech and chestnut trees, which were introduced in the rain forest of the Irish landscape.
A few generations after the lush forests of Ireland went. The original farmers of Ireland had begun the destruction, clearing forests for cultivation, and this practice was continued by small farmers and peasants. The continuing decline of the population uses wood as fuel and construction. Then the English colonization began to clear forests to deny hiding places Ireland in the first battles the country. At age 15, 16 and 17 were for wood-wood for British ships to loot and take advantage of other countries and slaughtered people. Since then, caused the nature of Irish agriculture and Irish politics more damage. Ireland, however, remains a land of forests. The conditions are perfect for growing trees. Unfortunately, this led to the planting of pines, which grow three times faster in Ireland than elsewhere in Europe. Wood products are the main imports from the EU to the oil. Ireland is forested, only nine percent, while the European average is 31 percent.
But there is hope. An Irish company called roots in Ireland began to reforest parts of Ireland from Armagh again. Each tree will be planted as a gift bought for someone to respond and a portion of the purchase price is what a charity organization for peace and reconciliation in Northern Ireland. A project like this is a great social landscape, environment and economy of Ireland and will enable future generations to Ireland as it should enjoy.
Tags: Genealogy History