EXHIBIT 23.1



            Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

We consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration Statement (Form
S-8) pertaining to the 2004 Long-Term Incentive  Compensation Plan of Cree, Inc.
of our report dated July 23, 2004,  with respect to the  consolidated  financial
statements of Cree, Inc.  included in its Annual Report (Form 10-K) for the year
ended June 27, 2004, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.



                                              /s/ Ernst & Young, LLP


Raleigh, North Carolina
January 12, 2005