Storm Éowyn Drives 18% Increase in Irish Wood Removal to 5.2 Million Cubic Metres

Storm Éowyn led to an 18 per cent increase in wood removed from Irish forests last year, reaching 5.2 million cubic metres, the highest level in over a decade, according to new Central Statistics Office (CSO) data. This was up from 4.4 million cubic metres in 2024. The total value of this wood was €238 million in 2025, a 1 per cent increase from €236 million in 2024, but 6 per cent down from a 2022 high of €253 million.

Of the total, 2.9 million cubic metres (57 per cent) came from privately-owned forests, marking the first time private forest removals exceeded public forest removals. Coniferous roundwood accounted for over 99 per cent of removals. CSO statistician Niamh Shanahan noted Storm Éowyn likely impacted this increase, with removals from public forests falling by 6 per cent, while private forest removals rose by 48 per cent.

State-owned Coillte reported Storm Éowyn's cash impact would exceed €80 million, with salvage operations continuing until mid-2027. The storm caused unprecedented damage, leading to lower pricing due to increased sawlog supply and reduced volumes of higher-value sawlog from windblown sites. Large sawlogs accounted for 36 per cent of removed wood, followed by small sawlogs (28 per cent) and pulpwood (24 per cent), collectively making up about 90 per cent of annual removals.