Ash is considered to be one of the most abundant tree species in Irish hedgerows. The trees are prevalent in every region of the Irish landscape and are a significant facet of the Irish agricultural sector. It is highly important for fauna in Irish habitats as it is used as shade, a place to hunt, and for some birds, a place to nest. It is also prevalent in other industries where its fiery grain and pliable nature make it highly popular in furniture making. But the use that ash is probably most known for in Ireland, is the manufacturing of hurleys. Hurling is one of Ireland’s most popular native sports with the ‘hurley’ being used by every player on the pitch, and with nearly 250,000 registered players in the country, the demand for hurleys is significant. Historically, hurleys have always been made with ash, spawning the popular phrase ‘the clash of the ash’. Therefore, its relevance in Irish heritage and culture cannot be understated.
In recent years, the disease known as Ash Dieback has caused serious damage to the populations of ash trees in the country. The disease is caused by a fungal pathogen called Hymenoscyphus fraxineus and is very similar to the Dutch elm disease that has already ravished the elm tree populations in the country. The ash dieback disease first appeared in Ireland in 2012 and has already caused high mortality rates of ash trees across Europe. The disease can affect trees of all ages and can be fatal, particularly within younger tree plantations. It is most often spread by fungal spores carried in the air and subsequently landing on trees during the summer months. Trees that are infected by the disease tend to show signs of foliage wilt, brown discoloration of bark, and receding shoots, twigs, or main stem resulting in a recession of the tree’s crown.
The effect of the disease in Ireland has been drastic, particularly within the hurley-making industry. The industry has been having a boom recently with the popularity of the sport expanding worldwide, through social media posts and viral videos, but hurley makers are finding it increasingly difficult to keep up with this demand, mainly due to the declining ash supply. Recently, we had one of the biggest casualties in the sector with Canning Hurleys having to cease production earlier this year. While alternative materials and different types of wood (such as bamboo) are becoming more prevalent in the manufacturing of hurleys, a lot of hurley producers do not have the means to adapt to using these materials, and therefore, will likely have to close.
There are options for farmers and those in the forestry industry to try and alleviate the infection of ash dieback. These include selection thinning, which involves the thinning of an ash plantation and reducing the risk of the disease spreading. There is also free growth which is considered to be a more intense version of selection-thinning. Then there’s bands 3-line which is a system that facilitates the planting of alternative species in an attempt to maintain a modified micro-climate more suited to younger trees. While these methods have proven to be capable of alleviating the effects of ash dieback, the disease still has an overwhelmingly negative effect and will be the cause of mass fatalities of the species in the coming decades. Therefore, this mass decline in the supply of ash is expected to provoke one of the biggest changes to the game of hurling in recent years.
References:
ENDERLE, R., STENLID, J. & VASAITIS, R. 2019. An overview of ash (Fraxinus spp.) and the ash dieback disease in Europe. CAB Rev, 14, 1-12.
Farmers Journal, 2022. Ash dieback comes home to roost. [online] Farmersjournal.ie. Available at: <https://www.farmersjournal.ie/ash-dieback-comes-home-to-roost-688750>
Irish Times, 2022. Is it the end for ash hurleys? Tree disease poses uncertain future for makers and players. [online] Available at: <https://www.irishtimes.com/life-style/2022/07/02/is-it-the-end-for-ash-hurleys-tree-disease-poses-uncertain-future-for-hurley-makers-and-landowners/>
RTE, 2022. Why the ash tree could disappear from the Irish landscape. [online] RTE.ie. Available at: <https://www.rte.ie/brainstorm/2022/0220/1281965-ash-dieback-disease-ireland-landscape-biodiversity-culture-hurling/>
Teagasc.ie. 2022. Ash dieback – Teagasc | Agriculture and Food Development Authority. [online] Available at: <https://www.teagasc.ie/crops/forestry/advice/forest-protection/ash-dieback/>