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ITEN Culture Night tour of UCC Arboretum
On Friday, 20th September, at 5:30 PM, we launched our annual Culture Night event, which was a fantastic success, attracting a diverse audience of all ages.
On Friday, 20th September, at 5:30 PM, we launched our annual Culture Night event, which was a fantastic success, attracting a diverse audience of all ages. Thankfully the night was dry allow us to complete the tour successfully. The evening began by exploring the rich history of the UCC Arboretum, a cornerstone of the university's establishment. This event celebrated the cultural and historical significance of trees and their vital roles in supporting human life and ecosystems.
The tree tour commenced with the Monterey Pine (Pinus radiata) at the Western Road entrance, a tree with deep roots in California's history. We also examined the Strawberry Tree, highlighting its historical uses in Ireland, including its role in producing alcohol and charcoal dating back to the early Bronze Age. Its legacy is reflected in local place names like Arbutus Island in County Kerry.
Next, we featured the Horse Chestnut (Aesculus hippocastanum), known for its iconic conkers that have been central to the traditional children's game of "Conkers" since the mid-nineteenth century. Beyond its playful associations, conkers have been used in traditional medicine and even as a coffee substitute during World War II. The versatility of this tree exemplifies human ingenuity and resilience.
The tour included a visit to the visitor centre to view the Ogham stone, where we learned about the unique Ogham script used by the Irish to inscribe their thoughts on stone. This writing system resembles a tree trunk with branches extending along its edge. Trees were deemed so important during this period that the letters of the early Irish ogham alphabet were even named after individual tree species.
We concluded at the magnificent Giant Sequoias (Giant Redwoods) near UCC Boole Library, among the oldest redwoods on Earth with an average lifespan of 2,200 years. These majestic trees not only enhance our natural environment but also connect us to our cultural heritage. The central theme beautifully highlights the deep connection between trees and the rich historical and mythological tapestry of Irish culture.