Cratloe Woods
Encyclopedia
The Cratloe Woods are a forested area around the village of Cratloe
in County Clare
, Ireland
. Much of the original oak forest has been replaced with coniferous softwoods during the past century; however, small pockets of native oak survive. The largest such pocket is the Garranon (or Garranone) Wood, which is visible on the hillside just north of the N18 road from Limerick
to Shannon
.
, who used the woodland at Garranone to symbolise the continuity of the Irish landscape and Samuel Ferguson
, whose love poem "The Lapful of Nuts" describes his happy times in Cratloe collecting nuts with his sweetheart. This poem dates to at least the mid-19th century.
hid his treasure under a tree in the woods, and an oblique reference to this (or to a contemporary villain) is in The Midnight Court by Brian Merriman
. Some veracity is given to this tale by the hanging of an alleged criminal in Ennis around this time. The outlaw is described as a cross between Ned Kelly and Robin Hood; the tradition maintains that he buried his takings under "a tree marked with the Ace of Spades". The roof beams of the Palace of Westminster in London are said to have been made from ancient oaks felled when Cratloe Woods were cleared.
Traditionally, it is claimed that wood from the forest was used in St. Mary's Cathedral
in Limerick. The church has its original roof, constructed with Irish oak and with a set of carved misericords—one of the few remaining in Ireland dating from before the 16th century. Sources for the history of the site are given in an unpublished doctoral thesis at the University of Dublin
, Trinity College. The woods are described as Foruisbh in medieval manuscripts, and the site of the O'Brien hunting grounds. They have been well-known across Ireland since the Middle Ages.
, with concentrated efforts made in recent years to cull introduced species (such as Spanish chestnut) from the wood. Palynological
research at the site indicates that woodland has covered the spot from the present to at least the late Middle Ages. Ownership has been by the McNamaras or the O'Briens for the past 1,000 years.
The Garranone site was managed as an oak (Quercus petraea) coppice
since at least the 16th century. In the mid-19th century the wood was converted from coppice to free-standing trees (employing Continental techniques) when Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) was planted between the coppices. Each coppice was singled to one bole
and these were forced upwards by the quick-growing pines. Also included with the pines are a number of sweet chestnuts and other trees. The original management to convert the coppice would have involved cutting down the non-native trees once the oak were sizable and growing straight upwards. However, this was done in a desultory way, and many pines and other trees survive. This management was revealed by palynological study, and supported by a forester's handbook now in the keeping of the National Library of Ireland
. This management is unique in Irish woodland history.
(1600 AD in England, later changed to 1700 AD by Oliver Rackham
for Scotland
and Ireland
), it is classified as an ancient wood. Historical records indicate the wood as present since at least 700 AD, cartographic records show the wood present from 1680 AD and palynological records from before 1600 AD. These findings indicate that Garranone is an ancient wood. There are less than a handful of this caliber in Ireland; as a result, the site is historically important in Europe.
Cratloe
Cratloe is a village in County Clare, Ireland, situated between Limerick City and Shannon in the midwest of Ireland. It is possible that the name derives from Croit-shliabh meaning "hump-backed hill", referring to Woodcock Hill.-Places of interest:...
in County Clare
County Clare
-History:There was a Neolithic civilisation in the Clare area — the name of the peoples is unknown, but the Prehistoric peoples left evidence behind in the form of ancient dolmen; single-chamber megalithic tombs, usually consisting of three or more upright stones...
, Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
. Much of the original oak forest has been replaced with coniferous softwoods during the past century; however, small pockets of native oak survive. The largest such pocket is the Garranon (or Garranone) Wood, which is visible on the hillside just north of the N18 road from Limerick
Limerick
Limerick is the third largest city in the Republic of Ireland, and the principal city of County Limerick and Ireland's Mid-West Region. It is the fifth most populous city in all of Ireland. When taking the extra-municipal suburbs into account, Limerick is the third largest conurbation in the...
to Shannon
Shannon, County Clare
Shannon or Shannon Town , named after the river near which it stands, is a town located in County Clare. It was given town status on 1 January 1982. The town is located just off the N19 road, a spur of the N18/M18 road between Limerick city and Ennis....
.
In literature
The woods at Cratloe Hill are the subject of poems and stories going back to at least the seventeenth century. Notable writers who have mentioned the site include Elizabeth BowenElizabeth Bowen
Elizabeth Dorothea Cole Bowen, CBE was an Irish novelist and short story writer.-Life:Elizabeth Bowen was born on 7 June 1899 at 15 Herbert Place in Dublin, Ireland and was baptized in the nearby St Stephen's Church on Upper Mount Street...
, who used the woodland at Garranone to symbolise the continuity of the Irish landscape and Samuel Ferguson
Samuel Ferguson
Sir Samuel Ferguson was an Irish poet, barrister, antiquarian, artist and public servant. Perhaps the most important Ulster-Scot poet of the 19th century, because of his interest in Irish mythology and early Irish history he can be seen as a forerunner of William Butler Yeats and the other poets...
, whose love poem "The Lapful of Nuts" describes his happy times in Cratloe collecting nuts with his sweetheart. This poem dates to at least the mid-19th century.
Traditional tales
Local tradition claims that a highwaymanHighwayman
A highwayman was a thief and brigand who preyed on travellers. This type of outlaw, usually, travelled and robbed by horse, as compared to a footpad who traveled and robbed on foot. Mounted robbers were widely considered to be socially superior to footpads...
hid his treasure under a tree in the woods, and an oblique reference to this (or to a contemporary villain) is in The Midnight Court by Brian Merriman
Brian Merriman
Brian Merriman or in Irish Brian Mac Giolla Meidhre was an Irish language poet and teacher. His single surviving work of substance, the 1000-line long Cúirt An Mheán Oíche is widely regarded as the greatest comic poem in the history of Irish literature.-Merriman's life:Merriman appears to have...
. Some veracity is given to this tale by the hanging of an alleged criminal in Ennis around this time. The outlaw is described as a cross between Ned Kelly and Robin Hood; the tradition maintains that he buried his takings under "a tree marked with the Ace of Spades". The roof beams of the Palace of Westminster in London are said to have been made from ancient oaks felled when Cratloe Woods were cleared.
Traditionally, it is claimed that wood from the forest was used in St. Mary's Cathedral
St. Mary's Cathedral, Limerick
St Mary's , is a cathedral of the Church of Ireland in Limerick city, Ireland which is dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary. It is in the ecclesiastical province of Dublin. Previously the cathedral of the Diocese of Limerick, it is now one of three cathedrals in the United Dioceses of Limerick and...
in Limerick. The church has its original roof, constructed with Irish oak and with a set of carved misericords—one of the few remaining in Ireland dating from before the 16th century. Sources for the history of the site are given in an unpublished doctoral thesis at the University of Dublin
University of Dublin
The University of Dublin , corporately designated the Chancellor, Doctors and Masters of the University of Dublin , located in Dublin, Ireland, was effectively founded when in 1592 Queen Elizabeth I issued a charter for Trinity College, Dublin, as "the mother of a university" – this date making it...
, Trinity College. The woods are described as Foruisbh in medieval manuscripts, and the site of the O'Brien hunting grounds. They have been well-known across Ireland since the Middle Ages.
Garranon
The Garranon (or Garranone) Wood is a sizable area of native Irish species. The area is predominantly native oakOak
An oak is a tree or shrub in the genus Quercus , of which about 600 species exist. "Oak" may also appear in the names of species in related genera, notably Lithocarpus...
, with concentrated efforts made in recent years to cull introduced species (such as Spanish chestnut) from the wood. Palynological
Palynology
Palynology is the science that studies contemporary and fossil palynomorphs, including pollen, spores, orbicules, dinoflagellate cysts, acritarchs, chitinozoans and scolecodonts, together with particulate organic matter and kerogen found in sedimentary rocks and sediments...
research at the site indicates that woodland has covered the spot from the present to at least the late Middle Ages. Ownership has been by the McNamaras or the O'Briens for the past 1,000 years.
The Garranone site was managed as an oak (Quercus petraea) coppice
Coppicing
Coppicing is a traditional method of woodland management which takes advantage of the fact that many trees make new growth from the stump or roots if cut down. In a coppiced wood, young tree stems are repeatedly cut down to near ground level...
since at least the 16th century. In the mid-19th century the wood was converted from coppice to free-standing trees (employing Continental techniques) when Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) was planted between the coppices. Each coppice was singled to one bole
Trunk (botany)
In botany, trunk refers to the main wooden axis of a tree that supports the branches and is supported by and directly attached to the roots. The trunk is covered by the bark, which is an important diagnostic feature in tree identification, and which often differs markedly from the bottom of the...
and these were forced upwards by the quick-growing pines. Also included with the pines are a number of sweet chestnuts and other trees. The original management to convert the coppice would have involved cutting down the non-native trees once the oak were sizable and growing straight upwards. However, this was done in a desultory way, and many pines and other trees survive. This management was revealed by palynological study, and supported by a forester's handbook now in the keeping of the National Library of Ireland
National Library of Ireland
The National Library of Ireland is Ireland's national library located in Dublin, in a building designed by Thomas Newenham Deane. The Minister for Arts, Sport & Tourism is the member of the Irish Government responsible for the library....
. This management is unique in Irish woodland history.
Mapping
Mapping the site dates back to the surveys of the 1680s, when the wood is first indicated in Petty maps. Scientifically, if a woods can be shown to continuously exist from the late Middle AgesLate Middle Ages
The Late Middle Ages was the period of European history generally comprising the 14th to the 16th century . The Late Middle Ages followed the High Middle Ages and preceded the onset of the early modern era ....
(1600 AD in England, later changed to 1700 AD by Oliver Rackham
Oliver Rackham
Oliver Rackham OBE is a Life Fellow of Corpus Christi College, Cambridge. He is also Keeper of theCollege Silver.An acknowledged authority on the British countryside, especially trees, woodlands and wood pasture, Rackham has written a number of well-known books, including The History of the...
for Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
and Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
), it is classified as an ancient wood. Historical records indicate the wood as present since at least 700 AD, cartographic records show the wood present from 1680 AD and palynological records from before 1600 AD. These findings indicate that Garranone is an ancient wood. There are less than a handful of this caliber in Ireland; as a result, the site is historically important in Europe.