While there is no mention of Maypoles or dancing around bile ~ sacred trees ~ in the early manuscripts (that I know of), there are numerous tales of the reverence and protection of these great trees. It would appear, though, that only certain people could get near them, as they were always well guarded or hidden.

From the Irish tales we know that Fintan planted five sacred trees in Ireland: the Ash of Tortu (“Branching Tree of Uisneach”); the Bole of Ross ("a comely yew"); the Oak of Mugna; and the Bough of Dathi (also an ash). It is not known for certain where most of these trees were planted, but scholars suggest they represent the division of Ireland into four quarters, with the central fifth being Meath. (See Alwyn Rees and Brinley Rees. Celtic Heritage, p. 120 (London: Thames and Hudson, 1998).

The Irish tales also tell us of the Nine Hazels of Wisdom, one of which is said to have grown over Connla's Well (also known as the Well of Segais) that only Nechtan and his three cup bearers dared visit. The well was a source of inspiration and knowledge (which the Reeses compare to Mimer's Well in Scandanavian lore). It is said that the feats of the sagas were obtained from the Nine Hazels of Wisdom (Celtic Heritage 161). As to the location of the others, there is mention of "the Nine Hazels of Wisdom that grew at the heads of the seven chief rivers of Ireland." (Celtic Heritage 192).

During their flight from Finn and the Fianna, Diarmaid and Graine encounter a giant who lives in the branches of a sacred tree. Diarmaid slays the giant and they climb the tree and eat the sacred berries. (Celtic Heritage, pp. 282-3.)

There is also mention of "love trees." Cu Chulainn had Derdriu and Noisu on the opposite sides of a loch, and out of each grave grew a pine tree, whose branches reached toward one another until they entwined across the loch Celtic Heritage 296). This story also offers proof that sacred trees were protected by the Celts. King Conchobor wanted to cut down the lovers' pine trees. The men of Ulster would not allow this, however and set a watch and protected the trees until Conchobor died (Celtic Heritage 296).

The Irish story of the marvelous tree that grew from heaven downwards, like an inverted Yggdrassil tree, which is alegorical of Christ, is a much later arrival, and possibly found its way into Irish lore via the legends the Viking settlers brought with them.

One of my favourite Welsh poems is Cad Goddeu, or The Battle of the Trees, preserved in a 13th c. manuscript titled the Book of Taliesin. The poem is said to date no earlier than the 6th c., but with elements that harken back to earlier times. The poem tells of a battle between Arawn, King of Annwfn and the ploughman Amaethon. The hostilities start with a theft by Amaethon, and the action centres on the trees being turned into fighting men by a magic wand. The significance of the poem is thought to be the powers ascribed at the time to trees and their protection.

In Romano-British mythology, Nemetona, a sometime consort of the Roman war god Mars, was said to have loaned her name to oak sanctuaries such as Drunemeton in Celtic Galatia (now central Anatolia), known as "nemeton," meaning "sacred grove or sanctuary." Nematona apparently means "goddess of the sacred grove." As an aside, Nemetona may also be related to "Nemain," an early Irish war goddess. An obscure, but ancient British goddess by the name of "Daron" was worshipped as the "goddess of the oak." I have no clue if the Brits danced around their sacred trees, but I imagine they were every bit as protective of them as the Irish.

I would like clarify that I am not arguing against dancing around the Maypole, or decorating one. It's an enchanting custom and lots of fun. Neither am I one of them there evil RP sticklers...IMHO, RP can get pretty darned boring if you have to stick to "what we Do know about the Celts." I simply have a passion for the sources and am gifted in the art of asking a lot of annoying questions. :O)