Neantóg (Irish for stinging nettles) is a plant very similar to a poison ivy. When traveling around Ireland, please beware of this as it is prolific throughout the country, and grows along many paths where one may walk. In my opinion it is one of the few banes of Ireland!
Too many times I have brushed against these little wildflowers unknowingly and then felt the effects of their sting for days. Today, my little girl had her own experience with the not so friendly plant. She learned a valuable lesson about how to identify a nettle as she stood their crying and holding her little finger out for me to see. Thankfully, it was a tiny brush with only one finger involved and she was able to forget about it after a few minutes. You might not be so lucky! Therefore, I thought it might be a good idea to put this up lest you encounter it on some friendly trek across our fair country.
If you have been stung by a stinging nettle:
• Wash the affected area with soap and water
• Mix baking soda (we call it bicarbonate of soda or bread soda here) with water to make a paste, then apply it.
• I have found that honey sometimes helps with the sting as well.
Watch out for stinging nettles the next time you go Blackberry Picking in Ireland [read more].
