damaged_forestry-1200x675 Storms damage 26,050 hectares of Irish forests — 46 Coillte sites remain closed to the public since Storm Éowyn. Credit Coillte / NASA.

The Department of Agriculture has confirmed that 26,050 hectares of forests were damaged by storms Darragh and Éowyn.

The figure is based on the completion of a satellite imagery-based assessment of wind-damaged forest areas by the Department and Coillte.

14,500 hectares are in the Coillte estate, and 11,550 hectares of private forest areas have suffered wind damage.

The detailed mapping assessment was carried out using imagery acquired from the Sentinel and SkySat satellite constellations. The use of high-resolution SkySat satellite imagery provided information at a local scale for delineation of forest damage areas. Information at a stand-level scale is now available to registered foresters through a storm damage map layer on the Department’s iNET mapping system.

Minister of State with responsibility for Forestry, Farm Safety, and Horticulture, Michael Healy-Rae, said, “It is clear that the first task for forest owners affected by windblow is the safe clearance of sites. The majority of owners can use their existing clearfell and thinning licences to do this work. For those who do not have a licence, it’s advisable that you apply for it now and mark it as ‘storm-damage‘. All such applications received will be prioritised and issued as quickly as possible.”

Michael-Healy-Rae-and-forestry-1200x667 Storms damage 26,050 hectares of Irish forests — Minister Healy-Rae.

Currently, 46 of Coillte’s 260 recreational forests remain closed due to ongoing safety concerns arising from Storm Darragh in December 2024 and Storm Éowyn in January 2025.

Clean-up work continues across affected areas following the extensive damage caused by Storm Éowyn, which hit Ireland on 24 January 2025.

A spokesperson for Coillte said, “We understand the importance of these spaces to local communities and outdoor enthusiasts, and we are working hard to reopen them as soon as it is safe to do so.”

“We ask the public for continued patience and understanding as we carry out this vital work. Updates and reopening timelines will be shared on our website and on Coillte social media channels as they become available,” added the spokesperson.