By Sean Moriarty

Last year’s wildfires in Killarney National Park have set back rhododendron control by 40 years.

Killarney Mountain Meitheal is preparing to tackle the regrowth of rhododendron in the National Park following last April’s devastating wild fires.

Over 300 hectares of natural habitat were damaged and the burnt scrubland is an ideal breeding ground for the highly evasive plant.

Meitheal volunteers will work to halt the re-growth in areas like Dinis Island, Old Weir Bridge and surrounding woodland. They hope to get crews in there by late April or early May to manage and eradicate the emerging regrowth in these areas.

As well as being highly invasive, rhododendron ponticum is also fire resistant as the roots of the plant remain intact after a fire and will quickly reproduce.

“Areas around Dinis Island and Old Weir Bridge were clear of rhododendron since the 1980s,” former Park Ranger and Meitheal volunteer, Peter O’Toole, told the Killarney Advertiser. “Fire creates the perfect environment for aggressive rhododendron re-growth."

Killarney Mountain Meitheal meet every Tuesday and Sunday morning to tackle various issues in the National Park. They work in close cooperation with Killarney National Park management and are supported by the Trustees of Muckross House.