Cúig Chrann Dúchasach (Five Native Trees)
Cúig Chrann Dúchasach’ is a Tidy Towns Malahide project at Malahide Library. ‘Five native trees’ have been planted in beautiful Corten Steel pots in garden at the front of the Library. The Ogham letter for each tree is on the front of the pot. Corten steel was used to compliment the flower beds on Village green and the trees were selected to suit growing in pots.
Willow
Hazel
Elder
Pine
Cherry
The aim of the project is to bring back appreciation and respect for our, once common, heritage trees at a time when our natural, native irish landscape is disappearing.
Inspired and informed by the book ‘Irish Trees, Myths, Legends & Folklore’ by Niall Mac Coiter, this project introduces the visitor to the ancient Irish culture and the Brehon laws that governed it.
Each tree has been identified by their ancient Ogham letter and a QR code introduces the visitor to the myths, legends and folklore associated with each tree. It includes medicinal remedies made from the tree and the historical fines should someone dare to remove them! Which tree can protect you from fairies, which one can give you wisdom and how can you stop your child growing?!
This project was funded by the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht through Pobal. It was officially launched on Saturday 22nd August 2026 by Cllr Joan Hopkins as a part of Heritage Week 2026.
Origin of the Ogham Letters (One theory – there are a few – from Wikipedia)
According to the 11th-century Lebor Gabála Érenn, the 14th-century Auraicept na n-Éces, and other Medieval Irish folklore, ogham was first invented soon after the fall of the Tower of Babel, along with the Gaelic language, by the legendary Scythian king, Fenius Farsa. According to the Auraicept, Fenius journeyed from Scythia together with Goídel mac Ethéoir, Íar mac Nema and a retinue of 72 scholars. They came to the plain of Shinar to study the confused languages at Nimrod‘s tower (the Tower of Babel). Finding that they had already been dispersed, Fenius sent his scholars to study them, staying at the tower, coordinating the effort. After ten years, the investigations were complete, and Fenius created in Bérla tóbaide “the selected language”, taking the best of each of the confused tongues, which he called Goídelc, Goidelic, after Goídel mac Ethéoir. He also created extensions of Goídelc, called Bérla Féne, after himself, Íarmberla, after Íar mac Nema, and others, and the Beithe-luis-nuin (the ogham) as a perfected writing system for his languages. The names he gave to the letters were those of his 25 best scholars.
Kingdome of Scythia
The Tower of Babel
Scythian gold
Scythians
Myths, Legends and Folklore
Willow
Irish Name – Saileach
Latin Name – Salix
Ogham Tree Calendar – 6th Month 21 March – 17 April
Ogham Alphabet – 4th Consonant – S
Brehon law penalty for removing – 2.5 Milch cows
Hazel
Irish Name – Coll
Latin Name – Corylus avellana
Ogham Tree Calendar – 11th Month, 8 August – 4 September
Ogham Alphabet – 9th Consonant – C
Brehon law penalty for removing – 2.5 Milch cows
Elder
Irish Name – Trom
Latin Name – Sambucus nigra
Ogham Tree Calendar – 13th Month, 3 October –
30 October
Ogham Alphabet – 15th Consonant – R
Brehon law penalty for removing – a year old heifer
Pine
Irish Name – Giúis
Latin Name – Pinus sylvestris
Ogham Tree Calendar – 2nd Month, 29 November –26 December
Ogham Alphabet – 1st vowel – A
Brehon law penalty for removing – 2.5 Milch cows
Cherry
Irish Name – Silín
Latin Name – Prunus Avium
Ogham Alphabet – 5th consonant– N
Brehon law penalty for removing – a year old heifer