This article is from page 16 of the 2012-08-21 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 16 JPG
IRELAND’S original heritage tree is returning home to Ballyvaughan with an ambitious new project by locals to reintroduce the Ballyvaughan Seedling Apple into the locality.
The Ballyvaughan Apple Tree was one of the first local species of tree identified by Irish Seed Savers more than 20 years ago, when it was classified as Ireland’s first Heritage Tree.
A number of samples of the tree were recovered and propagated by the East Clare-based organisation and have since been planted in several locations all around Ireland.
Despite this, however, the number of Ballyvaughan Apple Trees has dwindled in North Clare.
To coincide with Heritage Week, a group of locals have begun a quest to reintroduce the Ballyvaughan Seedling Apple to Ballyvaughan. A number of trees will be planted at ceremonies at Ballyvaughan Church and Fanore National School this Thursday, and an information evening will take place afterwards at the Burren College of Art.
“There is still a small number of Ballyvaughan Apple Trees in the locality but their numbers are dwindling. There are a number of very old trees, but they are dying out, and there are also three trees at the national school which were planted eight or 10 years ago,” said Conor Fahy, organiser of the tree plant.
“Thanks to the work of the Seedsavers, these trees have now been planted all around Ireland so we want to make sure that the Ballyvaughan Apple Tree survives in the area and that there are more trees here than anywhere else in the country.”
The Ballyvaughan Apple Tree produces a good supply of apples which are ideal for cooking or cider-making. The trees need to be planted alongside other varieties of apple trees to aid in propagation.
The trees were first identified by an American tree expert who was visiting the area in the 1980s and it is still unclear where the first Ballyvaughan Seedling Apple Trees were discovered.
“The exact location of where the original trees were found remains a little controversial among local residents. As they say, time is a great storyteller, and some details have become slightly distorted and exaggerated,” said Clare Biodiversity Officer, Shane Casey.
“A more recent survey of the parish, carried out by the Ballyvaughan Development Committee, has uncovered several orchards, with the poten- tial for many more specimens of the Ballyvaughan Seedling Apple to be discovered, as well as interviews with some of the older members of the community.”
Lynne O’Keeffe-Lascar of Kinvara Sustainable Living and Eoin Keane of Irish Seed Savers will be on hand at the Burren College on Thursday evening to advise local people on how best to look after the trees.
Lynne has recently completed a similar project of mass tree planting in Kinvara, while eight members of the Ballyvaughan community will also attend a course at Irish Seed Savers to train them in apple tree maintenance.