This year’s Autumn Field Day will be held on Saturday 6th October at the National Centre for Excellence in Furniture Design and Technology in GMIT Letterfrack, Co Galway. The focus of the day will be the connection between Prosilva forest owners and added value markets. This will be a great opportunity for attendees to broaden their awareness of timber quality and utilisation issues.
The Programme:
The morning session will include a tour of the campus and facilities with various stops of interest along the way (gallery, machine halls, timber store, lab etc.). The tour will culminate in a demonstration on the new mobile mill, kiln and air-drying shed. Areas of current relevant research will be outlined as well as quality of and prices paid for hardwoods.
The afternoon session will comprise of a panel presentation by a number of speakers (outlined below) followed by a discussion and questions and answers session on relevant issues associated with wood utilisation and CCF.
Speakers:
John Gallagher: A very experienced furniture maker and graduate of GMIT Letterfrack. He currently works as a researcher here. He has carried out some interesting projects recently particularly on Enterprise Ireland Innovation Vouchers with various hardwood users and niche products.
Bill Vernon: A furniture consultant. Bill has spent his life in the development of furniture manufacturing all over the world. He has a deep knowledge of wood products manufacturing and a very wide network of contacts in the furniture industry.
Mattie O’Malley: Of O’Malley Timber Ltd is based in Woodford Co Galway. His Company is well known for their quality timber products and craftsmanship including traditional boat building. They achieved national recognition in 2006 when they featured in the RTE series About the House with Duncan Stewart. Mattie has sourced timber from Prosilva forests in the past.
Liam Byrne: Is member of a family owned business providing a range of forestry services with vast experience in the areas of thinning, private woodland management, continuous cover forestry and native woodland contracting.
Chairperson: Paddy Purser is a forestry consultant and Chairperson of Prosilva Ireland
As usual at Pro Silva Ireland field days we will be collecting a voluntary contribution (suggested as €20) towards the running of field days and other events.
Pro Silva Ireland wishes to thank GMIT Letterfrack for hosting this event. We will also be running our AGM after the panel discussion.
Date: 06/10/2018
Time: Tea/coffee reception from 10:30am. Proceedings start at 11am
Lunch: A picnic lunch will be provided.
Venue: GMIT Letterfrack, Letterfrack, Co Galway
Directions: The College is located in the village of Letterfrack, adjacent to Connemara National Park. See location: https://goo.gl/maps/CyLs7Zdo25D2
