There is something special about walking through the Irish countryside when you begin to recognise the plants growing around you.

A hedgerow is no longer simply a collection of green leaves. You start to notice the hawthorn flowering, the nettles appearing in spring, the elder coming into bloom and the familiar shape of dandelions growing along the roadside. Plants that once seemed ordinary suddenly become familiar.

For generations, people living in Ireland developed an intimate knowledge of these plants. They knew which ones were useful, when they appeared, how they were prepared and which should simply be left alone. Much of this knowledge was passed down through families and communities rather than written in books. Ireland’s National Folklore Collection contains a remarkable record of traditional plant knowledge and folk remedies gathered throughout the country.

Today, there seems to be a growing desire to rediscover some of that knowledge.

Remembering the bean feasa

One of the most fascinating figures in Irish folk tradition is the bean feasa, often translated as the “wise woman”. These women were associated with knowledge of plants, traditional remedies, childbirth, healing practices and local folklore.

It is important not to romanticise the past. Historical healthcare was very different from modern healthcare, and not every traditional remedy would stand up to modern scientific investigation.

But that doesn’t mean the knowledge is without value.

There is something worth preserving in the way traditional communities observed their surroundings and developed a detailed understanding of the plants growing around them.

The revival of interest in Irish herbalism today isn’t necessarily about trying to recreate the past exactly as it was. Instead, it can be about bringing useful traditional knowledge into conversation with modern herbal practice, scientific understanding and good safety standards.

The plants haven’t disappeared

Perhaps the most wonderful thing about Ireland’s herbal heritage is that many of the plants our ancestors knew are still growing all around us. Nettle is one of the easiest examples. Often regarded simply as an irritating weed, nettles have a long history of traditional use and have also been valued as a food plant.

Hawthorn is another familiar Irish plant, with its beautiful blossom in spring and berries later in the year. Elder has its own long history in food, folklore and traditional herbal practice, while yarrow and plantain can often be found growing in places we might normally walk straight past.

Calendula, although not native to Ireland, has also become a much-loved plant in herbal gardens and natural skincare. The more we learn about these plants, the more interesting the landscape becomes.

Learning to look again

One of the simplest ways to begin exploring herbalism is to choose a single plant and get to know it. Learn what it looks like. Find out when it flowers. Notice where it grows. Look at how its leaves and flowers change throughout the year. Learn which parts have traditionally been used and, just as importantly, learn about plants that could be confused with it.

You don’t even need to pick anything. Learning to identify a plant accurately is valuable in itself.

This is particularly important with wild plants. Not everything growing in the Irish countryside is safe to consume or use, and some plants can be toxic. There can also be issues with pollution, pesticides and contamination. Responsible herbalism begins with correct identification and respect for the environment.

Bringing herbalism into the garden

You don’t need a large garden to reconnect with plants. A few pots on a windowsill can be enough to get started. Rosemary, thyme, sage, mint, lavender and calendula are all wonderful plants to grow and observe. As you care for them, you’ll naturally begin to notice the changing seasons and the different needs of each plant.

There is something very satisfying about growing a plant yourself and then using it in a simple preparation, but perhaps the greatest benefit isn’t the preparation at all. 

It’s the relationship you develop along the way. 

You begin to understand when the plant grows, what it needs, what it smells like after rain and which insects visit its flowers. You begin to see the plant as something living rather than simply an ingredient.

Why are we rediscovering herbalism now?

It isn’t difficult to understand why people are becoming interested in herbalism again.

We live in a world where so much of what we need arrives packaged, processed and delivered to our door. There is something deeply grounding about knowing how to grow something yourself, recognising a plant in the wild or understanding where a traditional ingredient comes from.

There is also a growing interest in self-sufficiency, gardening, foraging, traditional crafts and local knowledge.

Perhaps herbalism fits naturally into this movement because it reconnects several things at once: people, plants, food, nature, tradition and community.

Modern herbalists also have an opportunity to share that knowledge responsibly, rather than keeping it hidden or treating it as something mysterious.

A new generation of Irish herbalists

The revival of Irish herbalism doesn’t have to mean looking backwards. It can be about taking the wisdom that remains, learning from it and carrying it forward.

Workshops, herb gardens, plant walks and community projects can give people the opportunity to learn about plants in a practical and meaningful way. The knowledge becomes something that can be shared rather than something that disappears when one generation passes on.

And perhaps that’s what makes the current interest so exciting.

The Irish herbalist of today might work with traditional plant knowledge, modern herbal education and a healthy respect for scientific evidence and safety. The traditions can evolve without being forgotten.

Start with one plant

You don’t have to learn fifty herbs.

Start with one. Perhaps there’s a plant growing near your home that you’ve walked past a hundred times without really noticing. Find out what it is. Learn its story. Observe it through the seasons.

Then choose another. Over time, you’ll begin to see your surroundings differently. A walk becomes an opportunity to learn. A garden becomes a living classroom. A hedgerow becomes something more than a boundary between two fields.

And perhaps that is where the revival of Irish herbalism really begins. Not with complicated remedies or ancient secrets, but with something much simpler:

Taking the time to notice the plants that have been growing beside us all along.

The information in this article is educational and does not constitute medical advice. Never consume or use a wild plant unless you are completely certain of its identification and suitability. Seek appropriate professional advice before using herbs medicinally, particularly if you take medication or have an existing health condition.