Holly (Cuileann) - card

The Holly (Cuileann in Irish) was highly regarded by the druids and it was forbidden to fell such a tree as it was one of the seven Noble Trees (Crann Uasal) of ancient Ireland.
It was good luck however, to bring a branch into your home and across Europe this tree was planted near dwellings as it was said to repel lightning strikes.
Considering the Holly is generally associated with Christmas time or mid-winter, it rather unusually covers a summer month, 8th July – 4th August. It was believed that after the summer solstice, there began a battle between the Oak and the Holly, the Holly ultimately winning, thus allowing the approach of winter when the Holly would reign. 
In mythology, there is a legend concerning Fionn Mac Cumhaill and the Holly tree. One day Fionn and his warriors, the Fianna, were hunting on Keshcorran Hill in County Sligo in a territory ruled by a King who disliked Fionn. The King sent his daughters, three terrifying looking women, to cast a spell. They sat at the entrance to a cave and spun the spell using strands from the Holly tree. Fionn and his men, being curious, investigated and fell under the enchantment, at once being trapped in the cave. 
In this image we see the dominance of the Holly tree, bringing with it the storms of winter as the Oak fades into the setting sun. We also see the young Cúchullainn, who was said to have fashioned a spear from Holly, guarding the brown bull of Cooley and awaiting the armies of Maedbh to sweep in from the west. 
In Ogham; the symbol for Holly is Tinne, three horizontal strokes on the left face of a stone.

Illustration from an original by Margaret McKenna