We need your help now
Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.
You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.
If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.
Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
By continuing, you are indicating that you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
MINISTER OF STATE for Heritage Malcom Noonan has announced a funding allocation of €500,000 to clear the invasive rhododendron species from Connemara National Park.
The funding will be spent over the next two years to help eradicate rhododendron across 300 hectares of heath and blanket bog within the National Park, and will create employment opportunities in the National Park.
“Removing invasive species is challenging and labour-intensive work, but it’s critically important for the health of our ecosystems,” the Minister of State said.
The rhododendron clearance project will be advertised as e-tenders; contractors are to submit a response to the tender request to have their submissions considered.
The aim is for the works to commence by the fourth quarter of the year.
John Sweeney, President of Connemara Chamber of Commerce and Karen Mannion, CEO of FORUM Connemara (who are working with the National Parks as neighbours on a range of agri-environmental initiatives) both welcomed the news, saying:
“We are aware that similar work in 2020 provided employment to eight locals through the Farm Relief Service. It is tremendous to see this positive conservation work ongoing within the National Park, which is of significant benefit to both biodiversity and the community. We look forward with anticipation to the delivery of this project, which will further enhance Connemara as a location to visit and as a place to live.”
Dr Kevin Heanue, chairman of the Board of Directors of Connemara West also welcomed the news.
“The fight against invasive species like rhododendron is an ongoing challenge in Connemara and it is great to see this work continuing. The National Park is a significant local asset not only in terms of the natural environment but also in terms of the contribution it makes to peoples’ quality of life.”
Minister of State Noonan concluded: “Rhododendron is an extremely invasive species. It is one of the biggest threats to peatlands in the west of Ireland and can colonise habitats, causing significant problems unless properly managed.
He said he’s “delighted” the National Parks and Wildlife Service are using the funding to alleviate “a significant pressure” on the habitat and support the natural ecological function of the Park.
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
I might sound a bit like Hitler here but why don’t the prison service put prisoners doing hard labour eradicating rhododendron from areas. Then when that’s done have them doing other work. Perhaps with hard prison time they might think twice about reoffending.
@: whoa calm down buddy, common sense like that will get you in trouble.
@: what? And take them away from their X boxes, gyms and 3 course meals? The do gooders would be on in a flash claiming crimes against humanity. Do the Healy-Raes have any kind of horticultural business in their portfolio? I’m sure it will be a fair and transparent tender process.
@: Great idea. Drone-based supervision. They can do the job shackled. A few police dogs around. Start with the open-prison guys and keep going. Would make men of them jackeens.
@: I would gladly do this to get out of the place for a few hours. You’d probably have their skobie mates trying a jailbreak on em though.
@:
Simples, it would cost more to do that. Transport, Training, Security and Insurance. Then there is Risk. Think about it.
@: definition of slave labour, what next you start handing out 3 year sentences for littering.
@: I like it! If you ask me the prison service and the army should work in tandem to oversee something like the chain gangs from years back. If a person knew they were going to get 5 years actual hard labour breaking their back sides half way up a mountain, they might think twice.
@: I have thought about it. Prisoners could volunteer for it. In return for their labour, they get training, qualifications, work experience, and a sentence deduction.
Yea or a few of the lifelong dolers
@Jimmy Jones: So you want chain gangs made oup of Dublin people. Very considerate of you.
why cut it down it looks nicer than rushes
@Leitrim303: study up on it. It strangles everything around it below the surface.
@Leitrim303: Read the article
@Dan Moran: Fair dues to the Minister.
Minister of State Noonan concluded: “Rhododendron is an extremely invasive species. It is one of the biggest threats to peatlands in the west of Ireland and can colonise habitats, causing significant problems unless properly managed.
Well ban the sale of the damn thing, what’s the point in ploughing in millions over the course of years when garden centres and the likes of Lidl and Aldi sell thousands of them every year?
@Davey Ohanlon: are lidl and aldi still selling them, dunnes stop selling them around 3 years ago if not more.
@Davey Ohanlon: Excellent point.
@Davey Ohanlon: they’re trying to eradicate Rhododendron ponticum which is causing the issues. Other varieties sold in supermarkets or garden centres aren’t the issue.
@Barry Evans: well said. Not all of the species is invasive
Good that they are doing this, however they really need to sort out the ragwort problem.
@GClare: Ragworth is a valuable food plant for many native insects including the Cinnabar Moth. Only seems to be a bother to the horsey set.
@Gavin Tobin: not just horsey, all grazing animals. However, there is a fine in place for each weed found on your land, yet hedgerows and common lands are full of it. They need to make a decision either way.
@Gavin Tobin: Many a summer spent pulling it by hand on our cattle farm. Also needs from from grain fields too.
@GClare: don’t be lazy.go out and pull it.
@Mary Fitzsimons: no Mary you go out and pull it if you want because the point is that ragwort has here to stay and all the eradication campaigns in the Seventies did sweet FA and it’s the same for rhododendron. Can’t put the genie back in the bottle.
I wonder who from Kerry will win that tender!!!
I’ll do it for 499k…. Cash….
Killarney is absolutely riddled with it. Literally forests of it pushing everything out
@TommyC: It was well under control in Killarney until the NPWS shafted the volunteers doing the work on the ground.
@TommyC: haven’t the Healy-Rae been trying to highlight this for years with people on the journal laughing at them for highlighting this problem.
@Daniel Roche: They have. Wait and see! What about Kerry, the place is overrun with the stuff.
@Dave Barrett: I’ve heard the Healy-Raes called many things, but never “the stuff”.
@Gavin Tobin: How were they shafted? I volunteered many MANY years ago!
@sean o’dhubhghaill: Read and weep.
“Rhododendron: An ecological disaster in Killarney National Park” https://www.irishtimes.com/news/environment/rhododendron-an-ecological-disaster-in-killarney-national-park-1.3894358?mode=amp
Are they looking for volunteers?
Sure I’ll do it for a half million, it’s the big purple-y bushes, yeah? Sound! Give me a week and I’ll have all them Andyrodeheronce removed
Kerry is overrun with Kerrymen, need to cull some of them too.
It’s a start, but it’s gonna cost more than that.
@Ann Experiment: It’s going to tender so the final figure should come in roundabouts just under or maybe a little over the round billion. Should be finished by 2035 also.
Though I understand the removal of invasive species, this should actually NOT BE DINE COMPLETELY.
Ireland is already “bald” !!
It used to be a really GREEN EMERALD.
If these species like rhododendron should be used to protect new/young trees and than removed in parts it would make Ireland not only beautiful again but also more green.
Remember what has been done with all the fuchsia, everything had to be better, straight and “bald”
Where did it leave us …. In a country that damages all its smaller wildlife and let the bigger wildlife (like Sika and Muntjac) roam freely
@Jacob Mac Hay: You really do not understand invasive species do you. It kills native plants, it stops native plants from even rooting.
Replace it with the almighty Multi use Cannabis Plant
Bloody humans yet again interfering with nature.
@Benny McGlynn: It came in to the country to humans, they are getting it out of the parks because of the damage it is doing to the natural and native flora and fauna.
It’s a bad day to be a rhododendron…that’s all I’ll say.
Philip Duffy, the Kerry gentleman won’t get a look in. Mattie lives just down the road from there.
have your say