Dark Tales | Irish Folklore | The Whitethorn Tree (Christmas Special) 

Hi Daniel what a fantastic tale, hawthorn ( fairy trees ) are sacred to the Irish and not many will mess with one . A good few years back they where expanding on the motorway from Limerick to Ennis and just outside a small village right in the path of the plans for motor way there stood a very old hawthorn (fairy tree ), it’s was petitioned to the county council to save the tree and in the end the motorway was rerouted around the fairy tree and it still stands protected in it’s original place to this day. To move a major road around a tree tells how important hawthorn trees are to the Irish and our folklore. I am sure if a request is submitted to your local Co Council before felling begins the Hawthorn can be saved since it was there before the land was forested . I hope you get to visit your fairy tree for many years to come .

This is terrible news that they will cut all those trees down, and I am so pleased you will take the berries to keep seed in your freezer, to give life again from Mother Earth for the future. Thank you Daniel and Moss from Devon xxx

Absolutely loved this, as an Irish woman I'm so delighted that you took the time to share this wonderful story and respect the Irish culture and history, Nollaig Shona duit ❤️❤️

How beautifully told. You truly have a talent and a love for the earth. My mother was Irish and would never cut down a thorn tree...even in Africa where I was born and she died. Thank you for your story so eloquently told. And the memories it brought back. Would love it if you made them a regular feature. May the fairies bless you.

You are a Master Storyteller; a master photographer/filmmaker!! I was totally mesmerized with the forest's beauty; the fascinating fairy-farmer story and the manner in which you presented it!! WOW...best ever! To be watched again & again, & shared! Wishing you a beautiful Christmas Daniel!

Well done Daniel, a story well told. An Gorta Mór - The Great Hunger, is never forgotten especially in rural Ireland. I do hope you will be successful in saving the hawthorn tree from the chainsaw, with the help of your neighbour no doubt !!!

10/10 storyteller mossy! I've recently visited the stone structures on the hill top from your last story. The Burren forest is magical too, ancient stone remains of a settlement, all overgrown with trees and moss now. Sure there is a story hiding in there, and I'd love to hear you tell it. Thanks Mossy Edit: Sorry to hear about your forest! Also I'm a plumber house hunting in the Mayo to Cavan area, I've plenty time if you'd like help with your cottage, even a good chat through if you want to DIY it. Be glad to repay the knowledge you have given me.

I believe you might be a decendant from the fairies too Daniel. You certainly had me captivated. More Irish folklore please!

Just how champion was that now. More more more. One can only imagine the tree has as many stories as leaves. You set the imagination on fire. Thank you for being you.

Most Irish folks won’t take down a Hawthorne (and you could always tie yourself to it to avoid it being taken down, my friends and I did that for some 400-year old oaks on a property in Southern California a few decades ago). I have newly purchased some land with a couple of pastures, a shared small lake, a house and quite a nice forest. I’m very interested in Irish woodlands as a result and I’m subscribing to your channel.

Wow! As good as any Irish " Seanachaí " (the ancient art of story telling). I was spell bound. Ask the farmer/fairy if he has any more stories. I believe you have earned a standing ovation. Well Done. And what a great gesture to grow another hawthorn from the seeds if this one. keep up the great work. Thank you.

Beautiful story! Sad to hear they’ll be cutting down the forest… May your hawthorn tree grow tall and prosper!!!

I’m from Northern Ireland and I still live here, I would love to come and help you for a few weeks eventually if I figured out a way to sustain it, thank you for being so true to who you are and for doing this - it keeps me company after a long day in the rat race

What a wonderful story Daniel! You tell it so beautifully. I hope they do not cut down this incredible forest full of history and folklore. It is so sad that this is happening everywhere. We need our beautiful green space. I hope that your story will raise awareness and the public can intercept before it happens. Magic is real!!

Delightful story telling! I live on Vancouver Island in British Columbia and we have the same greedy corporate attitudes when it comes to clear cutting. However, there are many here who fight against this foolishness and as a result at least some of the centuries old giants have been saved through their efforts. Thank you for your wonderful vlogs! I grew up with a father who shared your dream. He gifted me a wonderful tattered book, Five Acres and Independence by M.C. Kains. Perhaps a little out of date now but a true classic. All the Best for 2022 to you , Moss and all the creatures that you share your magical small-holding with.

What a great storyteller you are! Thanks for sharing this tale:-)

Oh Daniel, you have succeeded gloriously in making me feel something! Something quite deep. What a treasure this film is, and will be even more precious if the beautiful Hawthorne tree is lost. What a heart breaking prospect. You are truly special and I am so grateful to have found your channel. Thank you for this and all your videos.

It breaks my heart that such a special place will be destroyed. I'm happy that you are collecting the seeds of the Hawthorne to plant. Loved your story & as always enjoy time spent watching your vlogs. Happy Yule to you & Moss.

That was brilliant!!! Both the story and the telling of it. Thank you so much.

Aaaaaand now I'm crying. THANK YOU FOR SHARING THIS, and thank you for saving the seeds of this magical tree

I loved this story. And pray the tree is protected. I think Ireland should be an entire World Heritage location do that ancient endangered trees, plants and ancient archeological history.

I absolutely loved that tale, as you told it I could envision it in my mind. Such sad news about the Grove of trees going to be harvested, I too hope the old Hawthorne Tree will be aloud to stand. Thank you for your beautiful gift of this story! 🌼

What a wonderful story. Thank you for sharing.

What an amazing journey you took me on, beautifully shot and told. Wishing you and your family (human and animal), a very Merry Christmas. Cheers Michael🕊🍸🎄

Wow loving your stories, I got my husband to listen as he is half Irish and his mother came from county Wicklow, we both love the story. Brilliant Happy Christmas to you both

What a fantastic story.

Ohhh... so beautiful... thank you SO much!! Such a lovely story and so well told..Hawthorn berries are healers to the heart, and the energetics open the heart, and help with expressing, love and receiving love How wonderful that you will take that love energy to your homestead..I gasped out loud when you said the trees would be cut down.. so sad..It is such a special place.. I hope the fairies work their magic and the tree remains for future generations.

That was very beautiful. And the story with some nice hand drawn pictures would make a wonderful book of fairytales...

Hi Daniel, my girlfriend bought me your calendar as a Christmas present. One of the best and most thoughtful gifts I ever received. A merry Christmas and healthy 2022 for both Moss and you!

When Christmas is under lockdown, then it is really good to hear some Celtic Fairy Tales.

I love hawthorn trees , especially the fairy thorns I have a special one I go and talk to 🌳Hawthorns had ribbons tied on them and danced around long before maypoles

Hi Daniel - a ribbon can be wrapped around the fairy tree to let the loggers know it is a sacred tree to be left 🙏

According to the Book of Invasions, Moytura, in Sligo, was the site of a huge battle between the Tuath De, then rulers of Ireland and the incoming Milesians, from Spain. The Tuatha De had superior technology, but the Milesians won out through numbers and valour. The deal struck after the battle was that the Milesians should have the land we can see, whereas the Tuatha De retired to the otherworld, an underlying eternal present, and became the fairies or little people-who are always there, just out of sight and become particularly close to this world at Samhain (Halloween). Hence one needs to be very careful of the intersections between our world and theirs, such as white thorn trees and fairy forts, for to damage these would be to break the treaty and all sorts of terrible consequences may follow - for example, one farmer who ploughed up a fairy fort woke up with his feet put on backwards (I heard tell, as a child). The battle at Moytura was the second - there was an even more ancient battle where the Tuatha De defeated and deposed the Firbolg (bag-men), an earlier race. They were also assailed by the Formorians, a race of ravaging monsters..

Merry Christmas Daniel and Moss! I have thoroughly enjoyed your videos this year and look forward to more next year 🎅🤶🥂🎄🎁🎈

Oh the throws of life... And nice bit of magic with the faerie at 18:25 on, great job!

What a shame to lose this magnificent small stand of forest. The special gifts of this forest will soon be lost. Society will be less for clearing these trees.

Thank you so much. My beautiful border collie passed away yesterday. Your story did some healing in my heart. Bless you.

Lovely story, well told, riveting. You're a gem Daniel.

Oh Daniel- this story soothed my anxious heart. Death and tribulation came this winter, even as I returned to my mother's people in Iowa. It is staying true to my Irish heritage, while forgiving "those who trespass against us" that brings me full circle.

You’re a very gifted storyteller. Thank you for the story of the fairy and the farmer’s daughter. I enjoyed it so much.

I loved this story ~ Thank You 💖 I am Scottish but descended from Irish who moved here to West Coast Scotland during the Irish potato famine… and also being a lover of folklore, myths and legends. I would love to hear more of these stories. I have planted many hawthorn in my garden who have just become a bit more magical after hearing this 🐝💚

Added to my playlist Daniel, one of the best story's I've ever heard, good lad and tell the neighbor thanks so much for passing it on.

What a beautiful place. More beautiful than you’d put in a fiction. I don’t know if I have ever seen something in nature that is comparable with the impression I got from this video. A beautiful glade basked in light and colour, guarded by an old friend. Surrounded by industry-towering logs planted in rows that are neither efficient or pleasing to the eye, but in a time past were looked at as a means to bring order into a place whose disorder was judged too cumbersome. A human imitation of nature that shows how difficult it is for humans to match that what nature does. There’s no ticket booth to walk through to enter. It’s just there for those in the know to enjoy. Magical enough to inspire stories to make sense of the beauty. A strong symbol that can be seen to be entangled with many themes in popular culture. A lonely reminder of what has been lost, of things that can disappear altogether. Felling those rigid rows of spruce will leave a scar on the land that’ll be hard to watch for years to come. The silver lining could be if they re-planted with more diversity and in a way that would allow to avoid clearcutting in the future.

What an absolutely fantastic tale, well told. I’m very glad that you shared this story.

You will find fairy trees all over Ireland standing alone because if damaged you may fear the wrath of the faeries. I have a local one which the land is cleared all round it but the tree stands untouched. It will be a brave soul that clears the fairy tree.

You are collecting the seeds so the tree will continue to live. What a beautiful thing. Please make them available to buy so that we can continue the chain.

Thank you that was beautiful. My grandfather used to tell tales that I would be totally absorbed in. Tom Ó Súilleabháin was from co.Clare I miss that man. I enjoyed following you.

I have always loved hawthorn trees and now after hearing this tale I shall have to plant one in my garden. I too have a great connection to fairies and being from an Irish family you have to love the wee folk. Thanks for sharing this wonderful tale.

Spellbound my man 🤙🏽 my heart breaks that the portal may soon be no more.

Daniel, Since I found you a couple months ago I have enjoyed watching every single video you have here. More than once I began to write you about your enchanting gift of story telling. Every time I began to write a comment I would stop myself from doing it because I figured me requesting you do a formal story telling video would not be something you would have time for, but now you have surprised me with what I wished for. I will take that as a sign to burden you with my additional thoughts. I know you want to fix up your out building first with all your restoration tools and bits and bobs and I think part of that restoration should include a lovely rustic fireplace where you can set a cozy chair and read stories with your gift. I imagine you'd want to do that for your Patreon, perhaps you already do? I know you have it in you to create video story telling that children and adults alike would enjoy. There! Now I've done it. Thank you Daniel for what you do and your consideration. You help me connect to good family memories. I spent most of my life on a family farm till the passing of my grandmother in 2004 and miss her and that lifestyle a lot. ~ Yosef

Daniel of the ancient spirit ... Thankyou🧡🕊🌳🌳🌳☘

Daniel, You yet again tell a beautiful story. This is the second such story I heard from you. The first was about the fairy mountain you told a few weeks ago. Your overall theme begins to remind me of the opening lines of a poem by William Allingham called The Fairies. William hailed from Ballyshannon not a million miles from your present abode. The lines go: Up the airy mountain Down the rushy glen We daren't go a-hunting For fear of little men. As I write this I am looking up at the wall at your 2022 calendar with Mossy poking his snout around a tree. It is clearly photographed in the same forest your story is set in. At this point I can offer some practical advice in relation to the lone whitethorn tree. No Irish worker will knowingly touch such a tree. To do so is deeply cursed. All you need to do for its preservation is to spread the word. Your neighbour will already be only too aware of this convention. For illustration I remember, as a boy, a story I heard about the construction of the present main runway at Shannon Airport in the 1960s. It is currently one of the longest there is. The original alignment took it directly through a fairy fort. When local workers became involved in the project they refused to touch the fort. The runway was realigned to avoid the issue. A very happy Christmas to you and Mossy.

Such a lovely place to sit and chill. I hope its left alone. You'll have to update us on this story as the months go by.

You are a wonderful storyteller. Keep them coming.

A marvelous story, and very much in the old tradition of supernatural tales at Solstice/Christmas-tide! My youngest son lived on a commune in Central Virginia for five years. When he was there, his name was Hawthorn. I did not know, in that time, any of the faery tales around that tree. How wonderful! Thank you for this video.

It is certainly a beautiful place in Ireland . Thank you so much for such a wonderful story. I was delighted to hear. You are truly talented.

Sad the beautiful woods that you and Moss walk in, will be cut down,when adjoining property was logged, i cried, knowing I would never see it at that maturity again.

I was mesmerized! Touched the deepest part of my soul. ❤

I'm so sorry you're losing that forest, although you seem wonderfully sanguine about it--I'd be cursing like the great great great grandfather was. Thank you for sharing that forest and that tree with us while they still stand. Amazing video--my best friend and I were riveted. You really know how to tell a story. I'm still tearing up. Take care.

Beautifully told ....

I do so hope you asked permission from the fairies before you took the berries and maybe left a gift for them as a token of thanks?

one of the best channels on youtube. thank you

That was a fun story. Here in Ireland we hear a lot of fairy stories. You look like you are somewhere close to where we live. We have whitethorn all around us. They are one of my favourite trees. I truly love the white flower that blooms in the spring. And I love the Blackthorn, which is so much like the whitethorn, but produces pink flowers. Beautifult bunches of tiny pink flowers so much like the whitethotn flower, but a lovely pink. We live in County Mayo right on the slope of Mount Nephin. Of the Nephin Beg range. Thank you for the story. God bless you!

What a wonderful tale. I to, would wish for the trees to be saved. Thank you Daniel for this and keep them coming!

Magical video! Thanks for sharing. We need to protect these magical trees all around the world.

One of the best videos I have ever watched, the forest is AMAZING and Ireland is just just a special beautiful place. Incredible video.

👏I am happy you didn’t touch its bark and are still here to share another gorgeous video 🎄Merry Christmas from Switzerland

Today is my birthday and this was a most incredible gift I stumbled upon... no coincidence there. I BELIEVE. ;)

More folklore tales please! I could listen to these all day.

Fantastic story and so amazingly well told. Captivating to say the least. I really hope the hawthorn tree is still safe.

I loved that, I was totally captivated. You're such a great storyteller. I hope that amazing Hawthorn will be spared, great idea to keep the seeds. I'd happily grow and nurture a couple of seeds if you have any to spare, I'd love to grow a magical tree down here in Limerick! Great music choice too by the way! I hope you and Moss have a great Christmas.

Such a beautiful, beautiful story. I hope it is true and I hope you can grow an entire grove of Whitethorns from your saved berries.. Thank you so much for this gift of hope.

What a beautiful forest. So sad to hear that it will end soon. Thank you for sharing.

LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE!!! Thank you Daniel, and Merry Christmas!!! And Happy Winter Solstice!!

Daniel this is so beautiful. Please send it to whomever has the power to decide what happens to this magical tree.🙏

You have a true gift of story telling, this could be made into a Pixar movie. Amazing, I can't wait for the next one - Bravo!

A beautiful story beautifully told. Thank you. I hope the glade and the tree survives.

So magical, and sacred! Love the story! Truly hope it doesn’t get destroyed!

I just got the calendar and I love it! Thank you! 🙏

Thank you so much for that story Daniel. I did not know about the similarities between the Irish fairies and the Icelandic hidden people. (even if my husband is Irish, from Leitrim) I look forward watching the rest of your tails and follow your progress on your wonderful land. I feel I have learned much about Ireland from you. Really, thank you. And hugs to Moss and everybody.

now in our fifties , as children, holidaying in the West of Donegal, at night we'd read the most frightening tales to each other ( at least it seemed to use) of the local ghosts & spirits and whatever else we thought was scary. And strangely enough, the thoughts of those stories still linger, the idea of remote country lanes in the West Coast of Ireland do cause a slight shiver,

You remind me of my English teacher in school Eddie Lenihan who was a great seanachai. Thank you

It's been a long time since I heard a true story master - well done, and you had me crying but smiling. I'm glad it ended well. Thank you so much for sharing it. At the very least besides asking that the tree be saved because of the lore attached to it for entire generations of your neighbor, I'd tie bright ribbons and a card identifying it ...for unless the foreman of the cutting crew is given specific orders not to cut it it will likely to get cut down without a thought.

One of my favorite videos I have watched ever. You are a master storyteller. Bravo!

Wow, that is a great story.

Wonderful story, I hope that glade survives clear cutting or the faeries might come after the loggers 🙏💕💫

What a fabulous story! Thanks so much for sharing it with us. I hope you were or are able to save the beautiful Hawthorn tree.

Not only is it a great story, you're a great storyteller - with the perfect voice for sharing those stories. Thank you. I will share this with others as you desire.

Wonderful storyteller & such a mesmerizing tale indeed! Loved it 💗Thankyou Xo

It pains my heart to know those wonderful trees will soon be killed. It is a murder of the land. Thank you for sharing. I look forward to more.

Wow your video making skills are growing by the day...thank you for sharing this tale from your neighbour. If it weren't for you or platforms like RU-vid most of us here would never have had the opportunity to hear it.

Daniel yours is by far my favorite channel to follow !

Wow you're an AMAZING story teller! I was litterally ipnotized by your tale , so beautiful! Thank you ao much for sharing it with us!!!

I would love to see that tree blooming in May. Hawthorn blossom is my favourite.

I always enjoy your videos of Mossy Bottom and your way of life. This particular video is absolutely wonderful! You are a talented storyteller… thank you!

That was a great story and you are an exceptional storyteller! Thank you !❤❤

Gutted that they will be felling your special forrest. It looks quite magical.

Wonderful story, and you have a great way of telling them.

Thankyou Daniel. Loved the story, hope you have many more.

Beautiful story. Thank you so much. 🏞️🏞️🏞️