Show off your tree beautifully decorated
We love to see your tree all dressed up and sparkling
Check out our gallery to see the families who have won a free tree over the past few years
And check out our gallery to see some of your trees looking amazing

Noble Fir

A non shed tree with branches layered .

Holds its needles very well.

Lovely scent

Norway Spruce

The traditional Christmas Tree, full throughout, tends to shed, but less so if watered generously

Lodgepole Pine

Bushy branches, unbelievably non-shed!

Check out our videos on You Tube

Use a stand that uses screws to hold and stabilise the tree
Keep the netting on the tree until you are happy it is standing straight and is well secured
Fill the stand with luke warm water
When taking down your tree check to make sure that the bolts don’t stay stuck in the trunk – you’ll need them next year!
Feel free to drop your tree back to us when Christmas is over.
Show us your tree decorated by entering our Facebook Competition

Every tradition has an origin, and the Christmas tree is no different. It’s thought that it mainly originated in Germany in the 16th century when people brought trees into their homes and decorated them.

Did you know…

Pagan Roots?
Evergreen fir trees have been used for thousands of years by pagans and Christians to decorate and celebrate. Pagans scattered branches of the tree around their home to celebrate the winter solstice and to remind them of the upcoming spring. The tree symbolises everlasting life with god for Christians. So although Christmas is viewed as a Christian holiday that celebrates the birth of Christ, traditions associated with it have their pagan roots.

Going back to 1500’s
It’s unclear when people first started to use these trees as Christmas trees. Riga, the capital of Latvia, was the first place documented to have used a tree around Christmas time, in the year 1510. On Christmas Eve, people would wear all black and carry rose-decorated fir trees to a guild house. They would set fire to the tree and dance around it in circles, in celebration of the New Year. There are other times when Christmas trees have been mentioned, such as Germany in 1521 and 1570.

Martin Luther’s association with the Christmas Tree
From what we know, the first person to actually bring a Christmas tree into their house was priest Martin Luther in the 1500s. Another priest, St. Boniface in England, went to Germany to try and convert the pagans to Christianity. He cut down an oak tree to prevent a pagan sacrifice and it’s said that a fir tree came to life in that very place, which he viewed as a sign of faith and he decorated it with candles.
At first, in Germany these trees were decorated with foods such as gingerbread men, nuts, marzipan cookies and apples. Glass makers then made ornaments for them.

Christmas trees first came to the United Kingdom in the 1830s and became popular when the queen put up and decorated one. Drawings of these trees helped them to become more widely used in England and in America. Tinsel was first made in Germany, from beaten silver, but this was expensive so plastic tinsel soon became popular. Because of the danger of fire due to candles on the trees, electric Christmas lights were invented in 1895 by Ralph Morris.
As we can see, this beautiful tradition has been around for quite a long time, and hopefully will continue to be a sign of Christmas and joy for thousands of years to come.

Did You Know?
Long ago, “Trees of Paradise” were used to symbolise the Garden of Eden and apples were hung on them, which may be one of the origins of decorations on these trees!
In 2004, a survey showed that the smell of real Christmas trees came eight in a nation’s favourite smell!
Martin Luther gave the idea of decorating trees with lights, as he placed candles on his to make them look like stars in a forest!
Man-made Christmas tree ornaments were first sold in Woolworths in 1880!
Santa Claus was a real saint! He was alive in Myra in Turkey, in the 300s.

Keeping it real for Christmas at local tree farm

Keeping it real for Christmas at local tree farm

Galway Advertiser 2018

Long lasting family Christmas traditions and wonderful memories on Galway’s only “Pick Your Own” Christmas Tree Farm

Kids of all ages LOVE Galway Christmas Trees. Why – Because they get to see our beautiful trees still growing in the ground, pick the one they love the best, mark it as their own with our red ribbon, and then…they get to see it being cut down right there and then, they can help to carry it in, and see it going though the netter, along with many a child!

What a great family tradition to add to your Christmas memories.

Our customers have been visiting our farm for many years now. We see whole generations every Christmas. We have seen couples get married, children arriving, families growing, and what a joy to see everyone as each year passes.

Our customers tell us “Brilliant selection of trees, staff are superb,  such a warm welcoming local family business! Makes getting the tree extra special! Once you visit them once, you’ll be hooked for life!”

Our trees are growing right on our farm. So you put on your wellies (and we have a supply of all sizes if you forget yours!)          take one of our signature red ribbons, and off you go to pick the tree just right for you.

We grow all types of trees – the traditional Norway Spruce, the noble fir, Nordman & Frazer Fir, and the lodgepole pine. According to one of our customers

“Best Christmas tree I’ve ever had … So worth it to pick your own tree and know how fresh it is as they cut it down for you there and then. Great day out for kids”.

We have been growing and caring for our trees all throughout the year. We prune, shape, fertilize, and replant so that you can pick a beautifully shaped, full tree –  exactly the way you want it, and perfect for that special place in your home. And for every tree you pick, we plant 3 new ones, so how is that for environmentally friendly!

So come on out to experience the joy for yourself.

We look forward to being part of your Christmas tradition!

Pets welcome too!

Website

http://www.galwaychristmastrees.ie

Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/GalwayChristmasTrees

Open

Daylight hours from Friday November 23rd to Saturday  December 22^nd.

Contact: Martin 087 2672386

Christmas Tree Tradition

by Sharon Dolan D’Arcy 2015

Christmas is steeped in traditions. One of the first traditions to be carried out in the run up to the holiday season, is to choose the Christmas tree itself. This is an image we often see nostalgically played out in Hollywood Christmas movies so it is all the more thrilling considering that it can now be done closer to home in Gloves East! At the farm of Galway Christmas Trees, three miles outside Athenry, this is a long lasting family Christmas tradition that can be experienced and will create wonderful life-long memories.

Galway Christmas Trees farmer, Martin Lynskey tells us that his customers have been visiting the farm for over ten years now. He sees whole generations of some families every Christmas from couples newly married to children arriving, and families growing. He says it is a joy to see everyone as each year passes. Customers tell him  “We have been going here for our Xmas tree for the past 7 years, it’s amazing & they are just lovely people! Christmas wouldn’t b the same if we didn’t pick our tree here “

When customers arrive at the farm, the trees are growing right there. The customers put on their pre-supplied wellies, take one of the signature red ribbons, and head off to pick the right tree for their home. One customer says “Our son loves to run around with his ribbon looking for “the best tree” and loves when they come to chop it down!  When we have been to you and bought our tree our Christmas begins.”

The farm grows all types of trees from the traditional Norway spruce to the noblefir and the lodge pole pine. The tree can be viewed from every angle to make sure it’s just right. Martin advises customers to remember that the tree will always seem so much bigger when you put it up in your house! He says too that children love to see the tree being cut down, they can also help to carry it and even admits that many a child has gone through their netter on the farm!

Galway Christmas Trees has been growing and caring for trees all throughout the year.They prune, shape, fertilise and replant so that once Christmas time comes around again, their customers can pick a beautifully shaped, full tree – exactly the way they want it and perfect for that special place in their home.  Martin is keen to remind us that for every tree picked, they plant three new ones in keeping with their environmentally friendly policy. Lastly, he advises that once you take your tree home, it’s over to you and to remember that every real tree needs lots of water. See Page for tips on looking after your tree.

Irish Country Magazine

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