Although oak has been cruelly exploitedough the millennia, it still survives as the main species in the few remaining semi-natural woodlands that are dotted around the country. It also grows alongside other native and introduced species in mixed woodlands. In addition, fine oak specimen trees can be seen dotted around Ireland in open spaces, parklands and hedgerows. Its prominence in the landscape goes back to the primeval forests when it covered large swathes of land from coast to coast. It then formed a major part of the climax forests especially between 5000 and 2000BC. An oak dugout canoe in the National Museum – found near Tuam in 1901 – illustrates the enormous bulk of individual oak trees. Measuring 15.20 metres long and 1.12 metres wide the log boat dates to 2500 BC. It is likely that a boat of this size would have been fashioned from a tree with a total height of around 50 metres. There are only two oak trees growing in Ireland today attaining heights of 37 metres. Its importance is documented in history and folklore. Mad Sweeney or Suibhne Geilt acknowledged its stature during his seven years of wandering through the woods of Ireland after the Battle of Moira in 637 AD. It featured as a Class I or ‘chieftain’ tree in the Brehon Law tree list.

Today, it features in 1,300 placenames in Ireland from Dervock (Dairbhóg or little oak grove) in Co. Antrim to Valentia (Dairbhe or place of the oaks) in Co. Kerry. In between, it is found in places such as Edenderry (Doire or hillbrow of the oakwood), Kildorrery (Cill Dairbhre, also Cill Darire or church of the oaks) and Durrow (from Dearmhagh, also Darúor oak plain). Two counties owe their names to oak: Kildare (Cill Dara or church of the oaks) and Derry (Doire or oak wood). Oak was widely used down through the millennia in boat and shipbuilding, construction, tanning and charcoal production for iron-ore smelting furnaces. Because it was highly prized it was also vulnerable to over exploitation and by the early eighteenth century a scarcity of oak was recorded. Within a few years the destruction of Ireland’s native oak woodlands was almost complete.

Today, there are probably no more than 16,000 hectares of oak growing in Ireland – north and south – representing only 0.02% of the total land area. Growing oak However, oak has been enjoying a revival especially since the introduction of the Native Woodland Scheme and Forest Environment Protection Scheme (FEPS) by the Forest Service. While oak prospers in good soils it is much more adaptable than it is given credit for and will grow in a wide range of site conditions. However, like most broadleaves, it grows best on fertile or moderately fertile low elevation sheltered sites. If timber production is the main aim – which it should be – then oak needs careful management throughout its rotation.

Good strong nursery plants are essential – preferably sourced from homegrown seed – and planted at 2.0 x 0.75 m spacing or 6,600/hectare. Oak timber There is no discernible difference between the wood of pedunculate and sessile oak. Both produce hard and naturally durable heartwood which varies in colour from yellowish brown to deep brown. The sapwood has a pale cream appearance and is perishable and therefore has to be treated with a suitable preservative. Because of its wood structure, the faster oak grows the stronger it is. It should be felled during the dormant season (November to February) as it may be susceptible to attack by fungi and insects if harvested during the growing season. Well managed oak has a wide range of high added value uses including veneer production, furniture and cabinet making, joinery, panelling and flooring.

External uses include cladding, boat building, fencing and railway sleepers. Wood density is high – between 672 to 720 kg/m2. Because of its high added value potential, oak is a prized timber among architects, builders, craftspeople and other wood workers. Quality native oak is in short supply in Ireland and most oak is either sourced in Europe (same species as Ireland) or in the U.S. where American white and red oak are widely used both in the domestic and European markets. Verdict: Oak is an extremely valuable tree and if the grower wishes to plant native species, then oak and ash are the species to select. However, crop rotation is long. Depending on soil fertility most oak crops will be at least 50 years old before they produce commercial lengths although fast growing oak can produce fencing material and small commercial lengths as early as year 35. Crops mature between 100 and 140 years so growing oak is for future generations and cannot be measured in narrow economic terms. In addition to wood production, foresters and growers who opt for oak also stress its environmental, cultural and non-wood benefits. The annual premium per hectare for oak (€573 plus up to €200 for FEPS) is higher than all conifers and broadleaves – except beech – which provides some compensation for oak growers. Many growers plant some of their holdings with oak alongside faster growing broadleaves such as ash and conifers which provide an earlier income stream.