A round-up of today's regional stories in brief
Dead python taken from Slaney river
A dead python measuring 10ft (3.08 metres) has been pulled from the river Slaney estuary.
The snake, believed to be an aggressive African rock python, was recovered at Ardamine Bridge near Enniscorthy, Co Wexford, by members of the Central Fisheries Board and staff of the Eastern Regional Fisheries Board, who were carrying out a fish stock survey. They discovered the snake in one of their seine nets, used to capture fish of varying sizes in the shallow areas of estuaries and bays.
It is believed the snake escaped from a vivarium or was released into the Slaney by a pet owner.
Dr Cathal Gallagher of the Central Fisheries Board warned of the environmental, economic and social damage invasive species can cause.
“Anybody wishing to dispose of foreign plants or animals should seek expert advice prior to doing so.”
Gay pride festival for Limerick
Thousands of people are expected in Limerick over the coming days to celebrate the annual gay pride festival.
The week-long festivities and the annual pride parade on Saturday are expected to offer a major boost to Limerick businesses.
Limerick City Council has decorated the city bridges with rainbow flags.
Festival PRO Michelle Costello said: “It’s wonderful to have the support for this festival from the city council. Outside of Dublin we are the only city to do this.”
Eleven rescued off Shannon cruisers
Eleven people were brought to safety on a lake in the river Shannon when their two cruisers went aground.
The Lough Derg RNLI lifeboat located the vessels, which had been travelling together, north of the Corragheens at the Goat Road on the eastern shore after the alarm had been raised via Valentia Coast Guard on Monday evening.
The first vessel had three people on board and the second vessel had seven adults and a baby on board. All were safe.
Call for strategy on fuel poverty
A national fuel poverty strategy is urgently required to ensure a coherent approach to protecting low-income rural households, according to Irish Rural Link.
The cessation of turf- cutting is pushing rural families into fuel poverty, the group’s representatives will today tell the Department of the Environment’s cessation of turf-cutting working group.
Rural Link is seeking a compensation package for families no longer allowed to cut turf. It also wants a helpline for those affected by the designation of raised bogs as protected areas.
Rural households have limited options to switch fuels, the group’s communications officer, Seán O’Leary, has said.