If you visit the magical yew wood in Killarney National Park, that is.

This includes yew wood and walnut chests and dressing tables.

They stood being dragged over rocks and falling down mountain sides better than the softer yew wood.

But yew wood is hard to get and hard to make into a bow once having got it.

The Great War of 1914 prevented this, and so we had an unlimited supply of yew wood for use.

The best yew wood in America grows in the Cascade Mountains of Oregon, in the Sierra Nevada and Coast Ranges of northern California.

It was played with slender round sticks, about six inches long, made of yew wood, so exquisitely polished that it had a gloss like satin.

Described as the "Precious shrine of St Manchan" it is approximately 2.5ft by 2 ft and made of yew wood with gilt bronze.

Yew wood is the greatest bow timber in the world.

I sauntered out in glorious August sunshine across the grounds of Muckross Estate and followed a path into the ancient yew woods.

" Yew wood," Sharon called over the motor's growl.