THERE is a forest somewhere with her name on it. The President, Mrs Robinson, shovelled her umpteenth ceremonial spade of soil on to an oak sapling in St Stephen's Green, in Dublin, yesterday.
Around her, a media pack that normally wouldn't be seen within a mile of a tree planting event watched with bated breath. If Diana could become the queen of hearts, Mrs Robinson is already crowned queen of trees.
At the press conference by Conservation Volunteers Ireland, an organisation that plans to plant 50,000 trees in Dublin by the year 2000, she remembered fondly the saplings that started life with the help of a presidential spade.
There was the one on Inisheer, off Galway, she said. They built a wall around so it would withstand the wind. But it still failed to survive. "We called it Mna na hEireann," she said.
"I think if I sat down I would remember every tree I planted since I took up office."
In her unscripted speech she talked to the young tree planters in sweatshirts. I first you were planning to plant 50,000 trees I wondered had the number of volunteers grown."
She said their project would "bring home the importance of the greening of Dublin and the regreening of Ireland."
The CVI president, Dr Catherine Mulryan, told the audience that there was nothing as lovely as a tree to celebrate the millennium. And yesterday's oak was a particular king among trees as it could support 280 species of insect and plant life.
"There are so many trees in my head," Mrs Robinson said, "but I'll remember that one in Stephen's Green."
After the speeches Dr Mulryan announced lunch and said the President was leaving. "I always miss the good parties," Mrs Robinson laughed with her head back, adding smiles to the warm glow she had already left in the room.
Her spokeswoman, Ms Bride Rosney, said she estimated Mrs Robinson had planted at least 100 trees during her term. "Very frequently, it's included on a visit. She's always said it's one of the nicest things she's asked to do and she never refused to do it when she's asked."
