119. Oak of Tralee

A moss-covered sentinel takes pride of place in Kerry’s county town.

Tralee Town Park boasts a prodigious Lucombe oak growing near the Denny Street entrance and close to the extensive rosebeds. The magnificent tree is just one of many attractions in the park, which is at the centre of County Kerry’s cultural life. The County Museum is here, as well as the Rose Wall of Fame, a glass memorial listing every participant in the annual Rose of Tralee Festival, a contest some might declare rather outdated, inspired by the eponymous Irish folk ballad.

Species details

Lucombe oak
Quercus × crenata ‘Lucombeana’

Where to find it

Town Park, Denny Street, Tralee, Co. Kerry, V92 W9X7 Ireland
///quintet.shipped.blessing | 52.267532, -9.705008

Other Lucombe oaks

51. Pen-y-Pound Oak

Some dates for your diary

Today I’m in Coventry at the Acorn Event, 2-3.30pm, Coventry Cathedral where I’ll be talking about oaks, and looking at some of the interesting trees planted in the gardens outside England’s finest modernist building. 

Next Sunday, join in the fun at the De Beauvoir Gardeners annual show in Hackney. It’s like a village show, but in the inner city. There’s prizes for your best homemade cakes, giant veg and homemade, and there will be tea and scones aplenty. I’ll be running a book stall, albeit with only a few titles to choose from, and you can sign up for my London tree walks too.

So, if you’re in Coventry or Hackney, do come and say hi!

De Beauvoir Annual Show, Kingsgate Estate, N1