Planting for the future: 20,000 trees to be planted in Mullaghbawn
Local artist and woodturner Padraig Carragher has successfully secured funding from the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development’s Forestry Grant Scheme for the planting of more than 20,000 trees to create a community woodland at his home place in Mullaghbawn.

Padraig Carragher, artist and woodturner from Mullaghbawn, was joined by P1 pupils from St. Mary’s PS, Mullaghbawn to start planting of over 20,000 trees
Padraig and his wife Sharon Donnelly Carragher, also an acclaimed artist, work from their renovated old mill studio, nestled in the valley of Slieve Gullion.
Alongside creating their own artistic pieces, the Carragher’s studio facilitates a varied selection of woodturning, art and craft workshops and masterclasses as well as demonstrations of traditional Irish cooking and baking for visitors and tourists alike from the homestead.
As part of the DARD’s Rural Development Programme 2014-2020 forest policy the Government is committed to a steady expansion of tree cover to increase the many diverse benefits that forests provide and the sustainable management of existing woods and forests including the protection of the environment, biodiversity, climate change and social and recreational use.
Pupils from St. Mary’s Primary School, Mullaghbawn and representatives from woodland consultants, Indiwoods joined Padraig on site recently to begin the process of planting the 22,000 saplings.
Speaking to Newry Times, Padraig said, “We are delighted to have been awarded the grant from DARD to facilitate the planting of a new woodland here in Mullaghbawn.
“It’s great to welcome local pupils from St. Mary’s to help kick start the planting of the trees that will have a hugely positive impact in terms of social, health, environmental and economic benefits for future generations of the whole community.”
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The new native broadleaf woodland will provide an important carbon capture, a wildlife and conservation haven and a relaxing retreat in this Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
Mary McGahon, Primary 1 teacher from St. Mary’s Primary School, Mullaghbawn commented, “It’s wonderful for these pupils to literally get their hands dirty and be involved in such a beneficial environmental project. They are learning importance of ecosystems and working together as a team, a thoroughly worthwhile experience.”
This initiative has received widespread local support including from the Ring of Gullion Landscape Partnership and the Ring of Gullion & Cooley’s Red Squirrel Group.
Padraig and Sharon hope to build upon the existing offering of their site by further developing the tourism aspect of their art and woodturning studios with plans to provide creative hand crafted wooden glamping pods for tourists and visiting members of the public.
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Well done, Padriag, a great initiative