Tiny number of Laois fireworks offences despite illegality

A new study of Garda records reveals that just two fireworks offences were recorded in Laois and Offaly in 2024 even though most of the thousands that will be used on Halloween will be illegal. 

An analysis carried out by Energy Efficiency Ireland shows that since firework laws were tightened in the mid-2000s, there have been 4,193 fireworks offences recorded across Ireland. 

The study provided to the Leinster Express / Laois Live shows that 230 were recorded in the Laois/Offaly Garda Division - the fourth highest in the country.

However, there has been a massive drop in firework-related offences over the past 15 years in the Garda division, with only two last year compared to 26 in 2009.

Most of the offences in Laois/Offaly are recorded between October and December according to CSO data, with the spike in offences coinciding with Halloween in towns like Portlaoise, Portarlington and Mountmellick.

Nationally, Limerick Garda Division had the highest number of fireworks offences over the past 20 years, with 336 offences.

Dublin West (278) and Donegal (263) had the second and third highest number of offences, and there were 230 firework offences across the three divisions in Cork.

Across Dublin, 1,021 offences related to fireworks were recorded from 2004 to Q2 2025 - around a quarter of the total.

Ireland has some of the strictest laws around fireworks in the world, and data shows that there has been a massive decrease in people using fireworks since 2010 when the number of offences peaked at 461.

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Nearly all fireworks are illegal to sell or possess without a licence. MORE BELOW POST.

F1 category fireworks are the least dangerous, and can be bought and used by the general public without a licence. These include party poppers, ground spinners, Christmas crackers and some sparklers.

All other fireworks are illegal, and those caught could be arrested, and end up with hefty fines or even prison sentences.

But as well as being illegal, fireworks can also have a negative impact on the environment, according to Briain Kelly of www.EnergyEfficiency.ie

He explained that fireworks can affect air and water quality, cause land pollution, and harm the wellbeing of animals.

“Fireworks release chemicals, fine particles and heavy metals into the air, producing gases like sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides.

“These substances can stick around long after the display ends, and can lead to poor air quality and respiratory irritation.

“The metal compounds that create the colours that give fireworks their strange appeal can also contaminate soil and waterways once they settle,” he said.

The Gardaí have wide powers to investigate these offences. If they suspect that you have fireworks for sale or supply without a licence they may:

• Request your name and address
• Request you to go to the Garda station to verify your name and address (if they are not satisfied your details are correct)
• Search you without a warrant and detain you for the time required to carry out the search
• Enter and search any vehicle, vessel or aircraft without a warrant, if they suspect that a firework may be found there
• Seize and detain anything connected with fireworks found in the course of the search

If the Gardaí suspect that you have committed an offence of sale or supply of fireworks without a licence, they may arrest you without a warrant.