Woodlands and parks across Galway city and county sustained significant damage during Storm Éowyn last week, with fallen and weakened trees, blocked paths and other damage making the amenities unsafe. As a result, people are being asked to stay out of these areas until they are once again safe to visit.
The National Parks and Wildlife Service has announced that several of its facilities — including the iconic Coole Park in south Galway — area closed until further notice. However work is ongoing and it is hoped to open these sites again in the near future.
Galway City Council has said it will take some time to do a full assessment of damage and start clear ups in the city's recreational areas. The car parks at Barna Woods and Rosshill Woods in Roscam have remained closed this week.
"Please stay out of woodlands and parks until clean ups are complete, as footpaths may be blocked, and there may be a risk of damaged/weakened trees falling," the local authority said in a statement.
Meanwhile, Galway University Hospitals is advising people that Merlin Park Woods, which adjoins the Merlin Park Hospital campus, was also extensively damaged during last week's record storm.
As a result of this, the woodland area at the moment is extremely dangerous and not suitable for recreational use.
A review of the damage is under way and, until a full assessment and removal of the hazardous trees is completed, people are asked not to enter the woodland area.
Several NPWS nature reserves — namely Derrycrag Wood, Pollnaknockaun Wood and Rosturra Wood, all near near Woodford, and Richmond Esker Nature Reserve — have also suffered severe damage from Storm Éowyn, and the services estimates it will take a number of weeks before the damage can be addressed and the sites can reopen to visitors.
