Barna Woods
Area of mixed broadleaf woodland in Barna, Ireland
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Barna Woods (Irish: Coill Bhearna) is an area of mixed broadleaf woodland located in Barna, County Galway, Ireland. The woods are approximately 3 miles from Galway city centre near Galway Bay.[1] The woods are accessible from Cappagh park which is located in Knocknacara or from Barna Road (Coastal Road - R336) where there is a small carpark. Other sections of the woods include an area across the road known as the South Wood which leads to marshlands ending in the Silver Strand (Irish: Trá na gCeann) on Galway Bay.
Ecological importance
The woods are owned by Galway City Council and are open to the public.[2] They are managed as part of a large Special Area of Conservation, the Galway Bay Complex, which protects a diverse range of marine, coastal and terrestrial habitats.[3]
Storm Éowyn
In January, almost 100 trees fell in Barna Woods due to Storm Éowyn.[4] The woodland remained closed to the public for over four months following the storm due to safety concerns.[5] In response, Galway City Council launched a project to repurpose selected fallen trees into chainsaw-carved sculptures depicting various figures, including an owl, an otter chasing a fish, and a fairy house.[6]
