Athy owner explains felling of centuries-old trees

DISMAY in Athy over the felling of six ancient trees in what is known as Julia Mahon’s Field a few metres to the rear of the courthouse has hopefully been put to rest by the present landowner John Lynch.

“I love trees, and I hated having to do this, but I had absolutely no choice,” said the 76-year-old of the chestnut and sycamore trees, reputed to be almost 400 years old.

“I have all the documents here if you want to see them, and everything has been submitted to Kildare County Council … to the planning and ecology sections.

“I have the felling licence, and confirmation from an ecologist and a forester because they were a bit diseased and in danger of falling.

“I first became concerned about two years ago, but I got really terrified after Ophelia,” he admitted.

“It took me €3,000, and a year and a half to get all the certification”, he revealed.

“Imagine if any of them had fallen on a busload of people coming to visit the Shackleton?” he asked rhetorically.

‘no Choice’

“And even if there wasn’t a bus there, some of them were 98ft (30m) tall, and the courthouse is only 28ft (8.5m) away.

“The council was notified a year ago, and two weeks ago by registered letter.

“I have done nothing wrong, and my paperwork was 150 per cent in order.

“I love trees … I have 96,000 trees, and I’m actually down in the woods at the moment sorting timber.”

The issue had been raised last weekend by a concerned local.

“Felling licences do not fall under the remit of Kildare County Council,” said a council spokesperson.

“If a felling licence is required, it would be administered by the Forest Service in the Dept of Agriculture, Food and the Marine”.