They were gone within hours

11:42, 06 Apr 2026Updated 11:43, 06 Apr 2026

Trees similar to these were taken from near Jacob’s Island

It may sound like one of the stranger crimes committed in Cork in recent times – but somebody went to the trouble of stealing six trees that had just been planted on a Cork Greenway last week.

The six 12ft trees, believed to be colourful Amelanchiers, were taken from the Blackrock to Passage Greenway, just hours after they had been planted by Cork City Council on Monday last. The trees at that size can cost in the region of €250 and they have distinctive sprays of white flowers which are showing at the moment (just not in Blackrock).

Cork City Council’s Park, Sports and Recreation department has posted about the theft to social media, asking for help from the public as the trees will almost certainly now be offered for sale, possibly through popular online small ads like Facebook Marketplace.

The department that planted the trees along the greenway said: “Six 12 ft trees similar to those in the photos were stolen from the Blackrock Passage Greenway last Monday evening, having been planted by our Parks Team that morning( near Jacobs Island).

If you have any knowledge that would help us to identify the culprits we would be grateful to receive!”

You can contact the Parks people through their Facebook Page, and any and all info on the missing trees will be gratefully received.

With the cost of mature and semi-mature plants and trees growing, theft from public and even private gardens is on the rise. The value of these six trees, which normally retail at around €250 each at that size, could be as much as €1,500 and it’s the work of less than a half hour to dig them up and throw them in the back of a van.

Local Councillor Kieran McCarthy has asked the public to help track down the culprits, saying: “

Very angered to hear from the City Council’s Parks Department that six 12 ft trees were stolen from the Blackrock Passage Greenway last Monday. If anyone has any knowledge that would help the Parks department to identify the culprits they would be grateful to receive such information.”

The irony here is that Cork City Council regularly gives away many hundreds of trees for planting across the city. This year, they will again distribute 5,000 free native trees as part of National Tree Week.