Yews are ancient trees native to Ireland.
They formed a part of the great primeval
forests, which dominated the earth long
before the advent of broadleaved trees.
Fossilised seeds of yew have been found
in peat deposits that were laid down
between 8,000 and 9,000 years ago.


Of these great forests Reenadinna Wood
, in the centre of Killarney National Park,
is the only surviving pure yew forest in
Ireland. It is one of only three extensive
yew woodlands in Europe and is probably the largest.
The oldest yew trees in Northern Ireland are
the yews at Crom, which are supposedly a
mere 800 years old. Proof that yew trees were
once widespread in Ireland can be found in
place names: Mayo means 'yew field', Youghal
'Eochaill' means 'yew wood', and Newry 'an tiur'
is so called because of a yew tree that St Patrick
is reputed to have planted there.


Edited by Majoska (02/16/06 09:17 AM)