Volunteers plant native forest in Mayo as a tribute to an Gorta Mór

Over the sunny May bank holiday, the Gaelic Woodland Project, an Irish charity dedicated to restoring native woodlands, reached a powerful milestone by hosting its first-ever community tree planting event in Cloonlavis in Knock.

More than 40 volunteers gathered to plant over 5,000 native trees across 12 acres of former agricultural land, laying the foundation for what will grow into a thriving native forest. Powered by grassroots donations, sponsorships, and support from Ireland and beyond, this marks the planting of the Project’s very first forest, a deeply meaningful act of ecological renewal and cultural remembrance.

The name 'Mayo' derives from Maigh Eo, the 'Plain of Yews', a reminder of a time when native trees like the Yew once flourished in the region. Today, such trees are scarce, but this newly planted forest, rich in species such as oak, birch, Scots pine, holly, and hawthorn, marks a step toward ecological renewal. As it grows, the forest will help the land recover and support a diverse web of life.

Every tree planted was grown from seed collected within Ireland, ensuring the forest maintains genetic integrity, adapts to local climate conditions, and enhances biodiversity, all central to the Gaelic Woodland Project’s reforestation ethos.

A living memorial

This forest will stand as a living memorial to the Great Famine. Funded in part by the Irish diaspora, it honours the lives lost and the communities scattered. This forest is the first in a wider series of native woodlands that will serve as living memorials to those lost in the Famine. In the decades ahead, the Project envisions establishing a far larger 'Great Forest of Remembrance' by 2045, the bicentenary of Famine. That forest will host a standing stone to honour the memory of the famine and the Irish diaspora. Each forest in the memorial network will be named after families who emigrated during the Famine, using records from the Immram archive to trace ancestral surnames.

The initiative was supported by the Western Forestry Co-Op, who will continue to assist with long-term stewardship of the site, including monitoring tree health, managing deer impacts, and supporting overall forest development. On the day volunteers were immersed in a joyful atmosphere of shared purpose, enriched by Irish mythological storytelling and nourishing local food, a celebration of the meitheal spirit at the heart of community action. Ar scáth a chéile a mhaireann na daoine.

The Gaelic Woodland Project is dedicated to long-term reforestation across Ireland through people-powered restoration, ecological education, and the revival of degraded lands into thriving native woodlands. This milestone marks the beginning of a sustained effort in forest stewardship, community engagement, and the enhancement of Ireland’s natural biodiversity for generations to come.

The Gaelic Woodland Project is a registered Irish charity (RCN: 20206178), founded in 2019, dedicated to restoring Ireland’s native woodland through land restoration, invasive species removal, and community engagement. Operating on a volunteer skill-sharing model, the Project hosts public meitheals - gatherings where people come together to work, share food, and connect with nature.