High Court orders temporary halt to tree felling at Merlin Woods

The High Court has ordered a temporary halt to further tree felling at Merlin Woods in Galway.

Published 5th Oct 2026, 19:07 BST Updated 5th Oct 2026, 19:14 BST Galway City Council The High Court has ordered a temporary halt to further tree felling at Merlin Woods in Galway. It follows legal proceedings brought against Galway City Council by Friends of Merlin Woods and its founder, Caroline Stanley.

Mr Justice Humphreys granted an interim injunction and the proceedings were brought under Section 160 of the Planning and Development Act.

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At the centre of the dispute is a 3.5-hectare section of mature Norway spruce at Merlin Woods.

Galway City Council has said an independent arborist recommended that the area be harvested after Storm Éowyn left the remaining trees more exposed and at risk of falling. The council plans to replant the area with native broadleaf trees.

Friends of Merlin Woods disputes the need to remove all of the standing trees and has argued that the woodland could be managed without clear-felling.

The High Court order means further felling and associated forestry works must stop for now.

The case will return to the High Court on Monday, October 12

“We hope it gives everyone involved the chance to step back and consider what’s truly best for Merlin Woods, the wildlife that depends on it, including our red squirrels, and the people of Galway who love it,” the group said.

Only one company responded to Merlin Woods works notice ‘Fallen trees’ at heart of dispute over Merlin Woods clear-felling Galway City Councillor Alan Cheevers (FF) said the court-ordered pause should provide an opportunity for further talks.

“This pause is significant, but I think there now needs to be further mediation and consultation in relation to Merlin Woods to stop further felling of woodlands,” said Cllr Cheevers.

The court action follows weeks of disagreement over the scale of tree felling at Merlin Woods after Storm Éowyn.

Galway City Council has said the work is needed on public safety grounds after an independent arborist commissioned by the council examined a 3.5-hectare section of mature Norway spruce in July.

The arborist recommended that the area be harvested and replanted with native broadleaf trees and the council said storm damage had left remaining trees more exposed and at risk of falling.

Friends of Merlin Woods has questioned the need to remove all of the standing trees and one of the main areas of disagreement has been how the works were originally described.

Galway City Council puts €130,000–€160,000 value on Merlin Woods timber Merlin Woods last gasp efforts to stop tree clearfelling failed over major problem as wildlife body probe In July, information given to local residents referred to the “removal of fallen trees in Merlin Woods”.

Friends of Merlin Woods said people understood this to mean trees brought down or damaged by Storm Éowyn would be removed. They did not expect healthy standing trees to be felled.

The council has said the storm also affected trees that remained standing, leaving them more exposed and potentially unsafe.

Friends of Merlin Woods has argued that standing trees could be managed rather than clear-felled.

Concerns have also been raised about the impact on wildlife and biodiversity.

Galway City Community Network has also called for an immediate halt to the clear-felling of healthy standing conifers and has asked the council to consider Continuous Cover Forestry as an alternative..

Galway City Council has said the felled areas will be replanted with native broadleaf trees as part of plans to restore the woodland following Storm Éowyn.