Ballymoney Rugby Club legacy plans for downed iconic oak tree
Plans to turn iconic oak tree into carved keepsakes
BALLYMONEY Rugby Club have commended the tree surgeons for the efficient way they removed the club’s landmark 150-year-old oak tree, put down by storm Buelo.
Club President, John Hunter described the loss of the tree as, “like the death of a distant relative.”
He said, the tree, finally toppled by winds gusting at nearly 80mph, had stood on the grounds since before the club purchased the land on Kilraughts Road, back 1976.
The storm caused widespread disruption, with around 7,000 homes and businesses left without power on Sunday morning (Oct 23) and flights cancelled at airports.
The club said: “We would like to thank Kyle McAuley and his team at McAuley Tree Surgery for swiftly dealing with the aftermath of storm Boelo, which took down our beloved Oaktree.”
The severe weather had forced the cancellation of Ballymoney Rugby Club's Saturday fixtures due to flooding, with the fallen tree discovered on Sunday morning.
The tree, that stood between the First XV and Second XV pitches, was so striking a feature that it had appeared on players' jerseys,
“Anyone who has visited the club will be aware we had an oak tree,” John said, adding that its demise had caused “sadness” among members.
Lifetime club member Ian Frizzell described the loss as the “end of an era” for the club.
However, plans are afoot to give the fallen tree a new purpose.
Mr Hunter said the club was considering getting local craftsmen to carve a plaque as well as smaller mementoes, that could be sold to raise funds as part of the club's 75th anniversary in 2027.
This would allow members to preserve a piece of its history for future generations, he said.
Readers may remember that beech trees from the Dark Hedges, brought down by Storm Gertrude, in 2016, were repurposed like this.
Tourism Ireland's Doors of Thrones project had 10 doors carved, depicting scenes from Game of Thrones, which was then all the rage, and had been filmed locally.
John Hunter said that the club was aware that the tree was “diseased” but “certainly not end of life.”
He said that a replacement tree had been destroyed by a storm five years ago, but that the idea of planting another tree had certainly not been ruled out.