On a windswept spring morning, the heart of Inishmore pulsed with energy, laughter, and muddy boots. Locals, schoolchildren, teachers, volunteers, and community champions gathered beside Scoil Rónáin to bring a dream to life: planting 350 native trees on the Aran Islands. 

 

🌿 The Seed of an Idea 

 

The inspiration for this project was planted during our Ecofitness group trip to Inishmore Aran Islands last year. As we explored the rugged beauty of Inishmore, one thing stood out—there were almost no trees. Curious, I asked around and learned that the island’s treelessness was rooted in history: trees had been cut down during hard times for firewood and never replaced. Logistics, funding, and the island’s salty, waterlogged soil made replanting a challenge. 

 

But challenges spark action. 

 

As a board member of Crann – Trees for Ireland, I saw an opportunity to collaborate. Crann had recently partnered with Brown Thomas, who now donate proceeds from their paper bag charge to plant 10,000 trees annually across Ireland. We decided to channel some of those trees into a community-led initiative on Inishmore—one that would educate, inspire, and reconnect the island with its leafy legacy. 

 

🌳 The Power of Community 

 

It truly took a village. We sourced high-quality native trees from the Irish Tree Center in Cork, chosen specifically for their resilience to salty air and waterlogged soil. The mini digger was generously sponsored by Mike Leonard from The Leonard Group, and the auger attachment came courtesy of a local builder in Cregmore, Galway. With the right equipment and a lot of heart, the team got to work—digging holes, unloading trees from the container, and prepping the land beside the school. 

 

The planting site—Grárán in Ní Gre, beside Scoil Rónáin—is a waterlogged stretch of land that had long been underused. Now, it’s a budding grove where children can play, learn, and connect with nature. Fruit trees were included for added joy and utility, and the survival rate of the trees has been phenomenal—99.9% still thriving thanks to careful planting and top-tier tree quality. 

 

A special shoutout goes to Avril from the co-op, who was the main driver of the project on Inishmore. Her leadership and coordination with local residents, volunteers, and the school made the day a true community triumph. 

 

🎶 A Friend in Me: The Heartbeat of the Project 

 

We named the initiative “A Friend in Me,” symbolizing the lifelong bond between the children and the trees they planted. I wrote a poem for the occasion, and James—our education coordinator from Crann—brought it to life. With his guitar and vocal notes, he transformed the poem into a song and sang it with the children on the day. The lyrics now live on a plaque at the school, a reminder that these trees are more than greenery—they’re companions, storytellers, and symbols of hope. 

 

🧠 Educating Young Minds 

 

After the planting and the music, James led a Q&A session with the students that lasted over an hour. The kids were curious, engaged, and full of thoughtful questions: 

 

* How do we keep the trees alive? 

* Why did we choose these types of trees? 

* What do trees do for the environment? 

* Can we name our trees? 

 

 

It was a powerful moment of learning and connection. The children not only planted trees—they planted knowledge, responsibility, and pride. They learned how to care for the trees, why native species were chosen, and how the trees would help transform Grárán in Ní Gre into a vibrant, living space. 

 

📦 A Time Capsule  

 

To mark the day, we buried a time capsule filled with messages from the children, teachers, and volunteers. In ten years, they’ll return to open it, reflect on their impact, and see how their trees have grown—physically and symbolically.