‘Luck might run out’ as Rathmines residents fear falling trees
Recent storms have left Rathmines residents increasingly fearful about the destructive impact of falling trees.
The consequences of Storm Amy led to a large tree falling in Mount Drummond Avenue, with Labour Party Councillor Fionna Connolly and Green Party Cllr Carolyn Moore requesting urgent action. In an emergency motion at Monday’s South East Area Committee meeting, the pair of representatives outlined the local community’s concerns.
“It’s an urgent situation because storms are increasing,” said Cllr Connolly. “The stress levels of the local residents are increasing and we’re lucky that nobody got hurt and no damage was caused to the property.”
As just one of many storms to cause chaos across Dublin throughout 2025, Storm Amy affected already vulnerable trees in Rathmines, forcing councillors to ask for planned maintenance and crown reduction works to be expedited. As a storm that left thousands of homes without electricity, extreme weather exposes weaknesses in the city’s infrastructure and the arrival of the predicted Storm Bram could cause similar issues.
“As these trees are already scheduled to be pruned and have crown reductions it just makes sense to push this forward to protect the residents, property owners, and the public on Mount Drummond Avenue," explained Cllr Connolly. She said a previous audit claimed the area was safe, but the recent toppling of a tree has caused “so much stress to everybody in the community.”
Cllr Moore pointed out one tree in particular that residents are concerned about, citing its large size, “substantial crown,” and the fact it is “weighted towards houses,” as a major issue. “For obvious reasons the residents have a genuine fear the next big storm could take that down,” she said.
“They’ve been very lucky that the last two that have come down in the storm haven’t caused any significant damage or any injury. But, their luck might run out some time.”
Dublin City Council have agreed to address the concerns of Mount Drummond Avenue. A response from the council’s tree officer said they have reviewed the condition of the local trees in the area.
“To prevent further damage or loss we are now recommending a comprehensive crown reduction and shaping for all affected trees. This work will help reduce the risk of additional tree failures, ensuring their stability and longevity. Requests for quotations will be sent out to our contractors today, our goal is to have the necessary work completed well before Christmas 2025,” a statement from the council said.
Cllr Connolly welcomed the response as a "sensible outcome” and stressed the importance of getting it done quickly. “Getting the work done early will reduce everybody’s stress and also prevent someone getting injured or property damage. There's so many people in that community. It's a very dense area so I really welcome that,” she said.
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