Only one company responded to Merlin Woods works notice

Euroforest Timber Ireland Ltd was the only forestry company to respond to Galway City Council’s call for expressions of interest for works at Merlin Woods and was appointed on that basis, the council has confirmed.

Published 2nd Oct 2026, 11:16 GMT Galway City Council's image of Merlin Woods in 10 years time after replanting | Galway City Council Euroforest Timber Ireland Ltd was the only forestry company to respond to Galway City Council’s call for expressions of interest for works at Merlin Woods and was appointed on that basis, the council has confirmed. The original public notice, published on March 12, sought a professional forestry management company for the “planned clearance of windblown coniferous forest and regeneration of woodland areas within Merlin Woods”.

It described the work as the “carefully planned clearance of windblown coniferous forest caused by storm damage” and said habitat would be retained where feasible.

Sign up to our Connacht Tribune Today daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know you can manage your profile, and explore all of the available newsletters from Connacht Tribune within your account.

The notice also stated that detailed plans would be prepared “in conjunction with stakeholders” and specifically named Friends of Merlin Woods, the University of Galway School of Natural Sciences, the National Parks and Wildlife Service and the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.

At a recent media briefing, it was confirmed that the council met with Friends of Merlin Woods in March.

In July, communications with local residents described the planned works as the “removal of fallen trees in Merlin Woods”.

‘Fallen trees’ at heart of dispute over Merlin Woods clear-felling Galway City Council puts €130,000–€160,000 value on Merlin Woods timber Galway City Council’s July Monthly Management Report similarly recorded that EuroForest had been appointed as the main contractor for the “removal of fallen trees in Merlin Woods”.

A separate council-commissioned survey of 3.5 hectares of mature Norway spruce was carried out by arborist Drew Bardell on July 7.

His report, dated July 9, recommended that the entire 3.5-hectare area be harvested and replanted with native broadleaf species.

On August 21, Galway City Council published a statement addressing the standing trees.

“Some standing conifers remain close to public paths, and Galway City Council sought expert advice from an independent arborist on the feasibility of retaining them,” the council said.

Mr Bardell was quoted in the statement as saying: “I am recommending that the 3.5-hectare area is harvested and replanted with native broadleaf tree species.”

The council said the remaining trees would be left exposed and weakened by the clearance of surrounding storm-damaged woodland and would need to be removed for public safety reasons.

Friends of Merlin Woods has since questioned the extent of the clearfelling and the consultation surrounding the works.

The group has reported the matter to the National Parks and Wildlife Service and asked it to investigate.