Peter Dowdall: Trees like this oak in Rochestown in Cork root us in the wider story

'To stand in front of a tree that has lived far beyond our lifetime is to be reminded that what we do now will shape the world long after we’re gone'

The oak tree on the grounds of St Patrick's Church in Rochestown, Cork. Picture: Dan Linehan

At this time of year, when our thoughts naturally turn towards home and history and the people who shaped us, I often find myself noticing the quieter presences around us, too. The ones we pass every day without really seeing.

There is an oak tree in the grounds of St Patrick’s Church in Rochestown, many people will walk past it on their way to Mass, perhaps glancing at it without giving it much more thought than they usually do, but if you take a moment to really look, you’ll see something extraordinary.