The record-breaking Storm Éowyn ravaged the country in the third week of January, ripping off the roofs of houses and destroying hundreds of thousands of trees. At the 161-hectare Montalto estate near Ballynahinch in Co Down, the woodlands were devastated with the loss of more than 1,500 trees as the storm barrelled its way across the country. Veteran oaks, in some cases 200 years old, and 150-year-old beech trees, were among the casualties in a trail of destruction. Storm Éowyn led to the closure of several of those walking trails and gardens, with some areas partially reopening in March. One the Montalto trails that was closed due to storm damage.

Source: The Irish Times January 22, 2026 09:00 UTC