Killea, County Donegal, Ireland
This unique piece of woodland art was created by forester Liam Emery, who suffered a brain injury following a car accident soon after planting this lovely tribute in 2010, right in the middle of a forest that resembles the island of Ireland,
Liam never got the chance to tell family or friends what he had done. It was made using over 3,000 trees of two varieties. It was only when the trees came to fruition (the Japanese Larch began to turn yellow) that his work was fully appreciated. The larch trees are similar in colour to the others for much of the year, but their leaves turn a beautiful shade of gold in autumn, making it an exciting landmark for the county.
Sadly Liam died in 2011 aged just 51.
The cross was never part of a master plan for the area, it was the work of Liam as a mark of his passion for Irish culture and heritage whilst planting a new wood for the Irish Forestry Board.
Liam’s work is now loved and cherished by all who can see it. His work was first seen by passengers and crew coming in to land at Derry Airport several years ago {2016}. The cross measures more than 100 meters in length and 70 meters wide.
It is such a beautiful tribute to the Irish Celtic Cross and indeed to the man himself that it is cherished by all. And the fact that he never told anyone about it makes it a very bittersweet reminder of our mortality.
Horticultural expert Gareth Austin told UTV that this vision of the cross in the forest could be visible for the next 60 or 70 years. He also commented on the massive amount of skill involved in creating such a piece of art.
Austin said “It’s not just cutting patterns in your back lawn, this is sizeable horticultural engineering.
“Liam created that and gave the gift of that to the rest of us, and we’re going to appreciate that for the next 60 or 70 years.”
What an amazing legacy to leave behind for generations of Irish and visitors to enjoy.
References
https://www.lonelyplanet.com/news/gigantic-celtic-cross-secretly-growing-forest-ireland
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.irishcentral.com/travel/emmery-celtic-cross-donegal.amp
Tree Weaver 