Clash of the ash tree
Cork hurlers might be playing with plastic hurleys soon if something isn’t done to save Ireland’s ash trees from a killer fungus set to wipe out 90% of the ash population.
That’s according to Independent Councillor William O’Leary, as he joined elected members of Cork County Council in a plea to address the spread of ash dieback disease throughout Cork and Ireland.
Ash dieback is a serious disease of ash trees caused by a fungus which originates in Asia and was brought to Europe in the early ‘90s.
According to state agricultural agency Teagasc, the disease is now prevalent throughout most of the island of Ireland and is likely to cause the death of the majority of the ash trees over the next two decades.
One of the main concerns amongst councillors is the danger posed by roadside trees weakened by the disease, especially during extreme weather events like last weekend’s storm. Last Friday in Donegal as Storm Éowyn hit, 20 year old Kacper Dudek was killed when a tree fell on his car as he made his way home from work.
Another concern for councillors is the hefty cost incurred by landowners to remove infected trees.
“There has been no multi agency or collaborative approach as of yet to dealing with the issue. That now needs to start,” said Cllr O’Leary.
“It’s far wider than just roadside trees. I have come across issues in residential estates where there are legacy ash trees being planted.
“Residents can’t take the costs upon themselves. Some of these estates are private and not under the charge of the council, so they’re now left in limbo,” added the Fermoy councillor.
Independent councillor Danny Collins said: “We see a death up the country where a young man was killed.
“We’ll have a lot more loosened trees now with these gales and there will be a lot more falling over the next number of months,” he warned.
The motion was brought to council on Monday by Cllrs Finbarr Harrington (Ind), Noel O’Donovan (FG), and Daniel Sexton (II) following a meeting with the Irish Farmers’ Association (IFA).
Cllr O’Donovan called on Cork County Council to contact the Department of Agriculture to open discussions around a pilot process that would see a multi-agency strategy developed for dealing with the ash dieback issue. The main goal of such a strategy would be to remove the financial burden on landowners caused by the invasive disease and the risks it brings.
“Tipperary Council has already made contact on the matter,” said Cllr O’Donovan.
He added: “It’s not just for farmers but for any landowner that may have trees along their boundary.”
Cllr Sexton said: “This motion is very important to the IFA. They’re deeply concerned about the future.”
Cllr Audrey Buckley (FF) said: “I guess I’m frustrated, being a councillor now for six years, it comes up all the time where trees fall on a main road and the council staff are out and they cut the trees and the taxpayer ends up paying for this.”
Responding to the motion, Cork County Council Divisional Manager, Niall Healy, said the council is currently awaiting guidance from central government on the matter.
“Trees, including those with ash dieback, are the responsibility of the relevant landowner and this is the legal position as outlined in the Roads Act 1993,” said Mr Healy.