Dúlra

16/05/2026

We were delighted to speak at the Hometree Changing Landscapes conference in Ennistymon on Thursday, alongside so many people doing important work across Ireland.
A big takeaway from the day was the need to acknowledge both the progress being made and the challenges still facing groups like ours doing the work on the ground.
Some of the key issues we raised included:
* The need for multi-annual funding that matches the long-term nature of the work
* More flexibility in how success is measured
* Support for work beyond SAC boundaries to allow for real landscape-scale impact
* Ongoing challenges around insurance, reporting, and admin
There’s no shortage of energy or commitment, but the systems around funding and delivery need to keep pace.
Thanks to Ray Ó Foghlú and Matt Smith for the opportunity, and to everyone who shared their experience and expertise so freely.
Christopher O'Sullivan TD
Natura Communities
FORUM Connemara CLG

03/05/2026

𝗣𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗰 𝗠𝗲𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 – 𝗠𝗮𝗮𝗺 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗖𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗲 🌿
Join the Dúlra Team on May 12th at 7pm to learn more about upcoming work in your area.

We will be discussing:
* Control of rhododendron
* Bog restoration
* New uses for wool in environmental projects

If you are interested in having rhododendron control works carried out on your land, this meeting is important.
Expressions of Interest forms will be available on the night, and the team will be there to talk through what’s involved.

This is a great opportunity to find out how the project can support landowners, farmers and the wider community.

📍 Maam Community Centre
🕖 Starts at 7pm
👥 Open to all – everyone welcome

29/04/2026

Really pleased to see our work highlighted in this article. Thank you Christopher O'Sullivan TD for the recognition and continued support. The Dúlra team has been putting a huge effort into tackling rhododendron and driving large-scale restoration across Connemara and South Mayo. It’s been especially rewarding to develop innovative approaches too, turning invasive biomass into biochar, alongside creating wool-based products like composite materials and wool logs for environmental restoration. Lots more to do, but great to see the momentum building and the value of this work being recognised.

Here’s a piece in the journal.ie outlining why I feel the recommendations from the independent advisory committee on nature restoration are the beacon of hope that we needed for the restoration of habitats, species and nature in Ireland.

I am fully on board with the priority recommendations, which are to fund nature restoration, to start on state owned land and to support farmers, fishermen and foresters.

I know we can do it because we’re already doing it on a small scale.

On a recent visit to Galway I witnessed farmers restoring nature. Some were in agri-environment schemes. But on top of that some farmers and fishermen were earning extra income by going out and working with Wild Atlantic Nature to remove invasive species, or restore peatlands.

Added to that, they discovered that the cutting from the rhododendron they were removing could be turned into a biochar, which has so many more uses.

The programme was administered by a local development company.

This proved to me that nature restoration can be a win for rural Ireland, it can be a win for the farming and fishing sector and it can be a win for local communities.

For me this is the future of nature in Ireland.

You can read the article here: https://jrnl.ie/7024987

28/04/2026

Join us for a chat on May 21st at 2.30 to find out more about Natura Communities and see if it is a fit for your local area.

On this Natura 2000 Day, join LIFE IP Wild Atlantic Nature to find out about our Natura Communities initiative. This locally-embedded conservation programme is restoring Ireland’s Natura 2000 network, while aligning with national policies on biodiversity, water, and climate. Delivering dual benefits, Natura Communities is not only improving the ecological resilience of protected habitats; it is also creating vital jobs in rural areas.

On this webinar, you will have a chance to hear from three groups delivering projects through the Natura Communities initiative. Projects are currently ongoing in counties Galway, Mayo and Donegal, with plans to expand to additional areas in 2026 and beyond, with support from both the National Parks and Wildlife Service and the Shared Island Fund.

Join us on Teams on May 21st at 2.30 to find out more about this exciting programme and future plans.

To attend, please register on Eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/1987504797351

06/04/2026

The Dulra team were delighted to be able to give our budding farmers of the future an overview of the works we carry out on control of invasives and Bog restoration on March 30th and 31st - a great bunch of engaged teens. Thanks to FORUM Connemara CLG Adolescent Support programme for arranging.

03/04/2026

The Dulra Team were delighted to be a part of this Youth Farming Programme run by the Adolescent Support Programme by FORUM Connemara CLG

02/04/2026

Clifden now has a Hares Corner! A huge thank you to the Dulra guys, Dermot, Colm and John for leading a native hedge planting yesterday morning at FORUM Connemara CLG offices in Clifden. The event was run by the SICAP team in cooperation with Dúlra. The team had a great turn out on a dreary morning and ran a very enjoyable workshop. Thanks also to RSS for their help.
Special thanks to Burrenbeo Trust for the trees.

01/04/2026

As part of Dúlra’s continued commitment to sustainable innovation in invasive species management, we have been engaging with a new partner, Joint Ecological Development & Innovation (𝐉.𝐄.𝐃.𝐈. 𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬), to jointly develop a tool to replace noisy chainsaws in the control of invasive species.

We are pleased to announce the phased rollout of Sustainable Arboreal Biomass Reduction Equipment (𝐒.𝐀.𝐁.𝐑.𝐄. 𝐝𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐬) across all operational teams from today.

Following extensive field trials comparing the S.A.B.R.E.-H (Heavy) and S.A.B.R.E.-L (Light) models, the 𝐋𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐒.𝐀.𝐁.𝐑.𝐄. has been selected for full deployment due to its superior manoeuvrability, reduced operator fatigue, and near-zero emissions profile.

Operators are advised to angle the blade away from their bodies at all times, as per manufacturer guidance: “𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐜𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐛𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐲𝐨𝐮.”
Please note: Cross-beam interaction between units is strictly prohibited under current safety protocols.

Supervisors will distribute devices and appropriate safety cloaks during upcoming toolbox talks.

Lá na nAmadán sona daoibh! 😄

28/03/2026

Great to present our work creating prototype Wool products for use in ecological restoration at the European Wool Event in Tralee today.
Such interesting work being done in this area.
Wool needs to be declassified as a waste product so we can allow innovation and entrepreneurship in the use of our Irish Wool.
Irish Grown Wool Council

17/03/2026

Lá Fhéile Pádraig sona daoibh go léir from the Dúlra Team at FORUM Connemara CLG

17/03/2026

We are delighted to provide training workshops on the control of invasives for the ACRES Breifne crew. Thanks to ACRES West Connacht for hosting and to Conor and Dermot for sharing their knowledge!