What is Coill Chormaic About?

Coill Chormaic is a forestry project established and maintained by friends and relatives who are inspired by the life and ideals of Cormac ó Braonáin

2000-2019

You can read a full report on Coill Chormaic that was put together by Climate Connected. LINK Here

Where is Coill Chormaic?

Coill Chormaic cares for two broadleaf native forestry biodiversity community projects in County Leitrim: at Anskert and at Laragh, both near Mohill. The Laragh Biodiversity woods, at Lough Rowan will include a 1 hectare memorial garden park.

Anskert

This mixed spruce, oak, birch and Scots Pine planted forest is on 6.8 hectares. The spruce trees will be gradually replaced over time with mixed native broadleaf trees in a biodiversity enhancing project.

Laragh Woods, Lough Rowan.

This 5.95 hectares site is on a slope above the lake. The site was under commercial forestry which has now been cleared. The new planting is of native broadleaf mixed woodland. This site, when fully planted and laid out will also be open to the local community. There will also be a memorial garden space adjacent to the biodiversity site.

Memorial Garden

Beside Lough Rowan, it is a 1 ha space for members of Coill Chormaic and the local community can plant a native tree in memory of a lost loved one. The garden will be laid out and tended to allow for visitor access on selected days throughout the year.

Why Coill Chormaic?

Cormac was a dearly loved family member and friend who grounded his life in community service, protection of our cultural heritage, and ecological activism. We his friends and family from all over Ireland, and indeed the world, would like to carry his memory forward in a way that reflects him. The forests will be open to the community as a public amenity and will embody a sustainability and biodiversity ethos.

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August 2026: Larragh/Lough Rowan Laying Out Paths

August 2026: Path Restored in Anskert after Storms

We are so lucky to have Shane Slavin as one of our members – he has chainsaw skills and did a huge amount of work in August cutting down the trees that had fallen during last winter’s storms. These had fallen across or, more dangerously, were overhanging the path we put made through Anskert in 2024. As a result of this trojan work we now have safe access to Anskert all the way to the bog. There are still lots of windfall trees that need to be dropped and made safe inside the forest and Shane has agreed to lead this work

Shane is also going to lead on the felling of the Ash Trees near the road in Larragh/Lough Rowan. These have die-back and have to be taken down so they don’t fall on the road. We will do this in September once nesting season is over. We will have to talk to the council about this as it’s not straightforward. However, Shane will be more than capable of doing the work – we will of course be happy to have mebers volunteer to give a hand on the less skilled work.