If you are interested in trees - not to say a bit crazed about them - or if you have a conscience and feel you should be doing something about them, then Crann are the people to fix your eyes on right now. For they have announced a series of events in many parts of the country in the next weeks, and no doubt are regularly adding to that list. A small pamphlet Feile Shamna na gCrann or Samhain Festival of Trees lists events from October 15th to 31st. Start with the opening ceremony, this Thursday October 15th, at 12 noon in Oak Glen, Glencree at noon. For the ceremony they have a slogan "plant a tree for peace". It is a North/South initiative, in association with Glencree Peace and Reconciliation Centre, Coillte and local school group.
You'll have heard, of course, that the Oak Glen initiative has been a marked success. Something like 19,000 (nineteen thousand) people now have a stake (a tree, then) in the valley. That's the first phase only, their magazine Releafing Ireland tells us. Crann is now looking for a new site to meet the demand for many orders which they have in hand. By the way, public access is guaranteed indefinitely, but its 65 acres are now in the hands of Coillte, who have already done so much. Tony Carey was the originator of the scheme: we'll wait for inspiration, in queues.
As to other events organised for this period - there are gales of them. In the Gaiety Theatre, Dublin, on Sunday next 18th, there are goings-on from 4 pm to 2 am. Stands, exhibition, film screenings, children's events, gigs, one at least of which is hosted by Mick Lally. Too many things to log here; but one big draw should be Dick Warner - not in a boat this time, but talking on Spirit of the Trees. That's on Wednesday 28th at 8 pm in the Bank of Ireland, Foster Place, Dublin 2. And John Boorman's film The Emerald Forest and then the animated film based on Giono's The Man Who Planted Trees in the IFC on Thursday 29th, 6 pm and 8.30. Finally on Saturday 31st a Parade for Trees from Wood Quay to St Stephen's Green with a traditional crafts and skills demonstration around the bandstand. Some of the things that are before you! A flourish - Will Sutherland in a lovely contribution to their magazine writes: "We make no apology for the fact that we love trees just because we do."