Outline of Company

None So Hardy [Forestry] Ltd is a privately owned Irish company specialising in the growing and supplying of first class forestry plants to the Irish forestry market. Our nurseries are based on 530 acres of land situated at Donishall and Ballymurn in Co. Wexford. Sales, administration and distribution for both nurseries is from the company base in Shillelagh, Co. Wicklow. The company currently employs approximately eighty people.

Background

In 1985 John and Gillian McCarthy purchased a small 12 acre nursery based in Shillelagh, Co. Wicklow. Their intention was to grow around 3 million trees per annum, but soon realised they needed to grow a minimum of 7 to 8 million trees to justify putting in place the necessary infrastructure and training of staff to ensure success. The original None So Hardy Nursery eventually grew to cover 280 acres. The purchase of the 250 acre nursery in Ballymurn, Co. Wexford in December 1995 means the group is now the largest private nursery in the country, with a capacity to produce 25 million trees per annum.

Development

Two important investments have been vital for our development. In 1994 we erected a cold store at the Shillelagh base which has the capacity to hold 3 million plants. In 2002 this was extended and can now hold 8 million plants. This ensures that the limited planting season can be extended by at least two months.

In 2002 we also established irrigation systems on both of our main sites at Ballymurn and Donishall. Ballymurn in particular is committed to the large scale production of hardwoods, principally ash, oak, beech, sycamore, alder, birch and mountain ash. Our aim is to supply excellent quality homestock from native seed for the establishment of native woodlands. The installation of a comprehensive irrigation system has been a crucial element of this aim.

Team

Nursery work is labour intensive both in field and office and requires a high level of commitment and expertise. It takes 80 hardworking, committed people to provide our customers with a top class product and service. An important aspect is the completeness of service we offer to clients right through to the delivery of plants to site on the morning of planting. This unique delivery service has been recognised and appreciated by our customers, who acknowledge the part this service plays in the greatly improved quality of their own planting.

RDS - Forest Service Irish Forestry Awards

In October 2007 Minister of State, Mary Wallace, TD, and RDS President, Dr Austin Mescal, presented the 2007 Awards in Castletown House, Celbridge, Co Kildare.

A special award was presented to John McCarthy, in recognition of his family’s contribution to the Irish Forestry industry. John was presented with a specially commissioned piece of Irish burr Oak, turned by Mr Seamus Cassidy. None So Hardy Nurseries are the major supplier of saplings to the Irish forestry industry.

Pictured on the left is John McCarthy receiving his special award in recognition of his lifetime contribution to Irish Forestry from Minister of State, Ms Mary Wallace and RDS President, Dr Austin Mescal.