Michael Healy-Rae urges public to support Ireland's Christmas tree sector

Irish growers produce around 700,000 Christmas trees each year, with 450,000 sold in Ireland and approximately 250,000 exported abroad, mainly to the UK

(Left to right) Minister of state with responsibility for forestry Michael Healy-Rae met two generations of Christmas tree farmers, Darragh Kelleher and his father Martin at Kelleher’s Christmas Tree Farm in Kildare. Photo: Maxwell Photography

The Irish public is being encouraged to support their local Christmas tree farms this festive period.

The message comes from minister of state with responsibility for forestry, Michael Healy-Rae, who met with the father-son duo running Kelleher’s Christmas Tree Farm in Naas, Co Kildare.