Daire

Daire of the Oak
We are very lucky to have Daire present in our forest as there are very few native oak forests left after years of harvesting with little replacements. Oak is commonly used in the making of furniture, with Oak doors meant to ward off evil. The male flowers are catkins, which come out just before the leaves, and the  seeds are acorns.
    King of the forest, Daire is a very magical tree and has many links to our local legends. The Dagda, father of Midir of Ardagh, had a harp called ‘Daur Dá Bláo’ or The Oak of Two Meadows. In the Táin, CùChulainn writes Ogham on the Oak to hinder Queen Maeve. Diarmuid used Oak to cut seven doors to protect himself and Grainne in their pursuit. Midir used Oak to pave his road in Corlea which is a bone of contention with our Daire.