Laois bird flu concern after swans die in Portlaoise lake

There is concern for bird flu contamination in Laois after two swans were found dead in a housing estate pond. 

Laois County Council has issued advice to walkers to stay away from dead birds and report sightings to the authorities.

The alerts were raised to the council by a concerned resident of Kilminchy in Portlaoise, saddened to witness a family of swans hit by the deaths. The first death was reported on March 3, and the next one on March 18.

The deaths came six months after a family of swans was returned to the cleaned up lake after being rescued from an eco deadly oil spill.

Stephen O'Toole contacted the Leinster Express / Laois Live after becoming concerned about the response he was getting from Laois County Council.

"I thought the council might take the swans away to see what caused the deaths. It could be bird flu, it's a concern to see them. The council said they would send out a bio person to look at them and see why they died. They sent out a person the next day but the swan was torn asunder from foxes or dogs.

"First it was a young swan, then the adult swan with its head in the water. Its mate was standing over it. It was sad to see.

"I saw these swans every day. There were four young but two had flown away. I thought the first death might be natural causes but not two deaths in two weeks.

"The council have created a lovely walk around the lakes, it's nice. A lot of young lads go fishing there. I'd be concerned that some investigation should be done rather than them go to the knackery," Mr O'Toole said.

Last August, Kildare Wildlife Rescue saved a family of swans from a potentially fatal oil spill in Kilminchy Lakes. Following a clean-up by Laois County Council the swans were returned last autumn.

Swans and cygnets rescued from Kilminchy lake in the care of Kildare Wildlife Rescue last August 2025. Pic: KWR

Laois County Council has outlined its actions taken over the swan deaths.

"The first deceased swan, at the settlement pond at Kilminchy, was reported to Laois County Council on March 3rd. The environment team contacted the Animal Collection Service on that day, and the swan was collected on March 4th. Laois County Council Environment Admin team reported the swan to the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. 

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