Memorials are usually of stone to honour some great man or woman, or organisations such as armies. But even stone wears: "Two vast and trunkless legs of stone/Stand in the desert" while near them on a pedestal are the words "My name is Oxymandieas, King of Kings". Now for the Millennium, monuments of some originality are being presented. One of the simplest of all is already created for us - the tree. We simply have to plant it. And plant it maybe in thousands and hundreds of thousands to make full impact. And it may, if allowed and attended to, last not only to the next Millennium but even beyond that; for it holds within itself the materials for constant re-creation. The acorns at the foot of a giant oak contain the possibility of achieving the same stature and durability as the parent tree. All this needs attention, of course, and this State has, in recent years particularly, shown its ability to recreate the woodlands we lost or threw away over the centuries.
The organisation Crann had affirmed its plan to releaf Ireland with broadleaf woodlands. "Never in our country's history has there been a more important and exciting time for trees" runs a recent letter from them headed A Call For Support. Or a more appropriate time, they might add, with the Celtic Tiger stalking the land, while this modest organisation has the courage to embark on a plan to mark the Millennium by planting about half a million broadleaf trees in what they call "Oak Glen 2" on the shores of Lough Derg on the Shannon. Half a million is a lot of trees. And it will be more than just a woodland, magnificent though their courage is; for they plan to make it a sort of nature park, with craft developments, wild bird protection, coppicing and hedgerow establishment. They say they will bring an understanding of trees into the schools of Ireland "with a pilot nursery scheme linked to an up-to-date data base which can be accessed by all participating schools on the Internet. If you are willing to help, Crann's address is Main Street, Banagher, County Offaly. Tel: (0509) 51718. The aims are the same since the days of Arthur Griffith, and Sinn Fein.
Money is needed to appoint a Co-ordinator, as seen in an advertisement in the business section of this newspaper on Friday last. Good intentions are not enough. And this comparatively small organisation has done great work. Wouldn't it be fine if some of our millionaires competed in contrivalling others in the size of the Woodland they would sponsor. Y