Events

December 2002	Informed of Coillte's plan to cut 15 mature Oak tree's this year, and 15 next year. See News; Coillte say "they will not go against people " and yet refuse to allow a show of hands on their plan.
December 2002	Coillte representative meet at Damien House to take group on tour to show trees they plan to cut.
January 5th	In below zero temperatures, 80 concerned local people walk Dartrey to site of Oaks. Also in attendence was Sem Karoba from West Pappa, New Guinea. Sem conducted a cermony for an Oak tree and sang some spiritual songs from his Country (see gallery pictures). Everyone left a stone under the tree as their signature to protect it.
January 8th	Receive news from local planning office that Coillte have recived a Felling Licence to cut 70 Oak, 100 beech, 100 Ash & 15 Sycamore, over a widespread area of approx 60 acres in different patches. They did not inform us of these facts in our previous meeting. Coillte has continued work in Dartrey and has cleared and widened a road to site in question (damaging some trees in the process).
January 9th	Thursday meeting of concerned citizens and politicans in White Horse Hotel, Cootehill, Call or email for details.
January 21th	At a meeting called by Coillte, they announced that "operations were suspended". However, locals requested that the word "commerical" and "suspended" be removed from descriptions concerning the proposed National Heritage Area.
February 25th	Meeting regarding proposals/plans for Dartry forest, to be submitted to Coillte (by March 5th)