Dozens of fallen trees block access to treatment plant

More than 60 fallen trees, knocked by the high winds during Storm Éowyn, are blocking access and have cut through power lines connecting Gowlan Group Water Scheme (GWS) in West Cavan.

The issue has once again ignited concern over the proliferation of forestry in the region, with local Fianna Fáil Councillor John Paul Feeley among those set to raise the need for further debate.

Groups opposed to large scale forestry, who previously addressed a Dáil committee on the subject, are hoping to make inroads with newly installed Ag minister Martin Heydon, as well as Independent Michael Healy-Rae, who’ll serve as Junior with responsibility for forestry.

** To read statement from Coillte, scroll down **

A representative of Gowlan GWS and a member of the Save West Cavan campaign group told the Celt this week that urgent “change” is needed when it comes to the regulations and legislation around forestry planting in Ireland.

The Gowlan GWS treatment plant is located in the townland of Edenmore, in the foothills of Cuilcagh, and accessible only through a forestry road flanked either side by rows of tall trees.

“There is possibly even more than 60 down,” says the spokesperson, recalling when Storm Isha blew through Ireland in January 2024 that fallen trees and broken power lines caused a complete blackout in the area for seven days straight.

If forced the GWS then to bypass the plant and supply raw water to the estimated 220 households left without.

They also had to issue a boil water notice to those reliant on the supply.

This time, however, the committee behind Gowlan GWS was prepared, hiring a generator, though they are now eyeing up the prospect of purchasing their own.

“It was the only solution. We can’t have another situation like we had in 2024. Our situation now is we’re upgrading the plant and we need to ensure that any generator is sufficient to meet our needs. If our capacity goes up, the power has to as well. We’re taking technical advice at the moment, at a possible cost of between €16,000 to €20,000 perhaps.”

The frustration for Gowlan GWS however is that many of the owners of lands where trees have fallen don’t live locally.

“All these forestry companies, none of them live local. They’ll tell you about farmers but very few do. They plant it miles away and some other poor bugger has to look out at it. But it’s okay for some fella [elsewhere in the country] and a pension fund, they don’t have to live with the consequences.”

Having made little apparent progress with former Minister for Agriculture, Charlie McConalogue, Save West Cavan are hoping for better reception to the cause from Minister Heydon and Deputy Healy-Rae.

To do that they plan on teaming up with the longer established Save Leitrim to lobby for speaking time.

“We’ll give him a fair crack at the whip and wait and see.”

While power has been restored to Blacklion village since Sunday evening last, there are many other areas still without, with the time for restoration in Gowlan and Glangevlin pushed out.

In the aftermath of the most recent storms, Cllr Feeley wants landowners, particularly Coillte and private forestry companies, to be held to account for damage done to power lines and roads due to fallen trees.

He intends to table a motion seeking such an outcome, and the council to invite Coillte officials to attend a future meeting, and like Save West Cavan, to seek a meeting with relevant Ministers.

Furthermore, Cllr Feeley wants the newly installed Minister for Local Government, James Browne, to provide specific funding to Group Water Schemes across Ireland to pay for generators to allow supplies to continue; that Uisce Éireann ensures there is emergency back-up power available in all its plants; and for an information campaign to encourage homeowners to remove trees within falling distance of their homes.

Within the council’s own remit, Cllr Feeley is asking that the local authority seeks specific funding to provide safety barriers on the R200 in Glan Gap; and also that they call on Transport Infrastructure Ireland to revise standards to ensure a hard shoulder is provided on all realigned national routes.

Coillte say damage is extensive

The national forestry agency says its current priority is supporting the efforts of the National Emergency Co-ordination Group, power companies and local communities. However it admits “early indications” are storm damage across its estates is “extensive”.

“At this stage we do not know the full extent of the damage caused by Storm Éowyn to our forest estate. However, early indications are that it is extensive,” a spokesperson told the Celt on Monday.

“Our priority at this time is to support the National Emergency Co-ordination Group, power companies and local communities, by clearing individual trees to open road access and helping them to restore power and services to homes and farms as quickly as possible.”

Coillte’s staff and contractors, they added, are continuing to work “hard in hazardous conditions” to deal with any damage caused as quickly as possible.

“We thank our neighbours and stakeholders for their patience and for highlighting any damage and as we clear the most urgent areas as a priority.

“With regard to damage to our own forest estate, we do not have specific details at this time. Once we’ve dealt with the priority of tree clearance, our focus will turn to mapping and estimating the extent of damage across our forest estate.”

In the interests of safety Coillte is also asking the public not to enter forests where there is clear storm damage or where there are clearance operations underway.

“As we endeavour to clear areas impacted by storm damage as quickly as possible, safety is our absolute priority. Hazards arising from storm damage may not be visible. Coillte is asking members of the public not to enter forests where there is clear storm damage or where there are clearance operations underway.”