yew

yew [OE ēow]. The evergreen tree or shrub (genus Taxus) with dark green, needle-like leaves and red berries has commonly symbolized immortality in the Indo-European imagination as it is the longest-lived entity, often lasting more than 1,000 years, to be found in the European environment. It is still commonly planted in Christian churchyards and cemeteries. The druids preferred yew for wand-making over their other favourite woods, apple and oak. The name of the Eburones, a Gaulish people residing between the Main and Rhine, means ‘people of the yew’, while several Irish and Scottish place-names allude to the yew, notably Youghall [Eochaill, yew wood] in Co. Cork. The Irish personal name Eógan means ‘born of the yew’, so that the great Munster dynasty could be glossed as ‘people of the yew’. According to the foundation story of Cashel, the Eóganacht capital, Corc mac Luigthig has a vision of a yew bush, with angels dancing over it, before settling on the site. One of Conchobar mac Nessa's residences at Emain Macha, Cráebruad, has nine rooms lined with red yew. Suibne Geilt in Buile Shuibhne [The Frenzy of Suibne] rests on yew trees during his flight. When Eógan (3) and Lugaid mac Con are disputing they hear the magical music of the yew tree over a waterfall; the musician is revealed to be Fer Í [man of yew], the son of Eogabal. Wielders of the spear Gáe Assail are sure to kill their victims if they utter the word ibar [yew] as they cast. The agnomen of Cáer (1), the swan maiden, is Ibormeith [yew berry]. In oral variants of the Deirdre story, King Conchobar mac Nessa drives yew stakes through the hearts of the dead lovers, which later grow and intertwine near a church. Yet not all stories of the yew imply power or vitality. A rod named fé, made of yew or alder, was used to measure corpses and graves. And Fergus, the hapless brother of Niall Noígiallach [of the Nine Hostages] in Echtra Mac nEchach Muigmedóin [The Adventure of the Sons of Eochaid Mugmedón], signals his sterility when he rescues from a burning forge only the ‘withered wood’ of yew, which will not burn. OIr. ibar; ModIr. iúr; ScG iubhar; Manx euar; W ywen; Corn. ewen; Bret. ivinenn.