Hugh O’Flaherty’s Trees
Species: Mediterranean palm (Chamaerops humilis var. Argentea), Italian cypress (Cupressus sempervirens), Holm oak (Quercus ilex), Stone pine (Pinus pinea)
Age: 25 years
Region: Killarney, Co. Kerry, Ireland
The Hero Trees
There is a tree called freedom and it grows somewhere in the hearts of men, rain falls, ice freezes, wind blows, the tree shivers, stedies itself again, steadies itself like Hugh O’Flaherty’s hand, guiding trapped and hunted people, day and night, to what all hearts love and understand, the tree of freedom upright in the light. Mediterranean palm, Italian cypress, Hom oak, Stone pine; A peaceful grove in honour of that man, commemorates all who struggle to be free. The hurried world is a slave of time, wise men are victims of their shrewdest plans. (By poet, Brendan Connelly – June 1994)

Photo: Don McMonagle{{photographer}}
European Tree of the Year 2017
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15th place 
National contest organizer: Just Forests
Previous years and their winners

Finalists of the European Tree of the Year 2017

Oak Józef
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1st place 
The Brimmon Oak
Wales, UK
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2nd place 
The lime tree at Lipka
Czech republic
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3rd place 
The Céron park saman
{{format_votes(7420)}} votes
4th place 
The Sycamore Gap Tree
England, UK
{{format_votes(7123)}} votes
5th place 
The Holm Oak
Northern Ireland, UK
{{format_votes(7101)}} votes
6th place 
The venerable sessile oak by the Nasalevtsi church
{{format_votes(6670)}} votes
7th place 
The "Ding Dong" Tree
Scotland, UK
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8th place 
Plane tree from Budatin
{{format_votes(6022)}} votes
9th place 
Aprisquillo Pine
{{format_votes(5459)}} votes
10th place 
Russalka oak
{{format_votes(5317)}} votes
11th place 
The Village Lime Tree of Massemen
{{format_votes(5280)}} votes
12th place 
Stelmužė oak
{{format_votes(5245)}} votes
13th place 
The most beautiful plane tree of the Jászai Mari square
{{format_votes(5132)}} votes
14th place 
Hugh O’Flaherty’s Trees
{{format_votes(5096)}} votes
15th place 
Climbing Beech in Hoppenrade
{{format_votes(4763)}} votes
16th place