John Jordan
Paul Maher
THE RECENT outbreak of Chalara fraxinea, or ash dieback disease, has proved to be a great area of concern for hurley manufacturers in the Enniscorthy area.
It is now just over a month since the first reported Irish case of the rampant, fungal disease that can effectively spread like wildfire.
Around 35,000 imported ash saplings have now been destroyed, starting at a forest in Leitrim, then four other sites, after the entire consignment was traced back to theNetherlands.
The problem is drifting westward from continental Europe, with 90 per cent of Denmark’s ash population already wiped out, and reports too that the disease is now “out of control” in the UK, where there are 80 million ash trees.
Further recent reports detailed the first outbreak of ash dieback in Northern Ireland, at five separate sites in Down and Antrim, where notice of destruction has been served.
Governments across Europe have reacted accordingly; the Department of Agriculture here recently passing legislation to ban the import of all young ash plants and seeds from any infected area, extending that to a ban on any ash wood not already de-barked and sufficiently dried.
Although highly valued in various ways, the ash tree in the Irish context has long been associated with the manufacture of hurleys, not least because of the irreplaceably unique properties of the wood itself.
John Jordan, from Jordan Hurls, which has been manufacturing top quality hurleys for over 25 years in Marshalstown, Enniscorthy, said that the spreading disease is a worry for his business.
He said: “I’m definitely concerned for the future, which is when it is sure to have a huge effect. It all depends on the sourcing of the timber inIrelandand whether it can be contained. It is key to contain the timber at our borders; I think it is our only hope.
“However, it appears that the disease could also be windborne so the future may not be rosy. We’re all just waiting on feedback really, the Guild are meeting inspectors of forestry on a weekly basis to find out updates.
“This could be a disaster for us as shorter supply of hurls would mean higher prices but Coillte has promised to deliver 40,000 planks so hopefully they will keep their promise.”
Oylegate hurley maker, Paul Maher, who has been in the business over 27 years, agreed that he is concerned for the future but is also unsure of what will happen.
“It’s too early into the battle to say what is going to happen yet – we just have to wait and see how it goes. It’s too hard to know what will happen. I can’t see how they will just block importing the timber completely though – they’re won’t be enough.
“Coillte will have to start cutting more Irish timber. If there is a shortage for us and we have to raise prices it will be shooting us in the foot as clubs don’t have the money as it is. I don’t think we’ll see the effects until February or March anyway and I’m really hoping that it will work out.
“This just wasn’t expected and was just sprung on everyone but seven or eight years ago an American man who bought hurleys off me told me that there was ash dieback disease over there so it’s not a new thing. I don’t think it will just disappear now but Coillte are doing their best.”
[Full story in this week’s Echo]