Cora

Cora is a recent immigrant, arriving here in the late 1500s, early 1600s, like a week, or half an hour ago, in ancient tree life. Becoming more Irish than the Irish themselves, now where did we hear that before, she is known and loved by all. Her flamboyant, big leaves are immediately recognisable and children have been playing ‘conkers' with her chestnuts for many years. Because she is new here she hasn’t links to Irish legends but she has lots of stories of her own.

She comes from Lydia, an ancient kingdom in Asia Minor. She is related to Daire, the Oak Tree fairy and her tree can live for up to 500 years. The name "horse chestnut" was given to her tree by a Flemish ambassador to Turkey who saw soldiers feeding the fruit to their horses. There is a festival in France dedicated to her chestnuts that goes on for a week and attracts thousands of visitors