A Rathdowney Councillor has requested that Laois County Council address the recent incidents of crows leaving 'serious droppings' on cars and outdoor seating areas in Laois.

Following a motion from Fianna Fáíl Cllr Paddy Bracken, Fine Gael Cllr John King has asked that the Council cut back trees in the Borris-in-Ossory/Mountmellick District due to crows causing 'damage to vehicles' with their droppings.

"While Cllr Bracken has mentioned the Council moving trees, two business people in Errill village have had crows doing horrendous damage to local cars," Cllr King said.

Pictured: The trees in Errill village. Photo: Google maps

"Are they driving the cars?" Cllr Bracken interjected.

"They're destroying the cars," Cllr King answered.

"They are destroying them with serious droppings. I am asking this question- with cars being destroyed by crows, is it possible that these trees can be trimmed?" Cllr King asked.

"Or how long is the season for these works? If you saw the cars and footpaths- there is a lovely little stone seat in Errill, you couldn't sit on it because it's destroyed. Can emergency works be carried out on this, close to the season? When is this season up?" he asked.

Senior Executive Engineer with Laois County Council, Mr Rory O'Callaghan, responded that outside of hedge trimming season, the Council may only serve a notice for hedge trimming if roadside vegetation is causing danger to road users.

Cllr King explained the issues that local businessowners are facing due to crows 'destroying' areas.

"When I say this: I've seen it outside the shop, there's a lady trying to sell ice-cream. She has a little seat next to her shop for people to sit on, and you wouldn't believe how bad it is, it's destroyed," he said.

Pictured: Errill village. Photo: Google Maps

"I think the crows came in from Ballacolla or Tipperary," Cllr King joked.

"I've never seen as many crows doing this kind of damage.  My question is, can something be done? Can we trim back some of the trees? I don't want to harm the nesting season, but I want to prevent this going forward," he said.

The District Engineer replied that he will follow up, and reiterated that they cannot serve a notice outside of hedge cutting season unless there is a danger to road users.

"But in saying that, the crows know when to start and they know when to stop, they aren't going to do it the whole summer, and it's common enough, believe it or not. But I've never seen it as bad as this year," Cllr King replied.

Angela McEvoy, Director of Services with the Council, replied that the Community section had a tree management policy in 2024, and she will consult and see if the works may apply.

"It isn't a safety issue as such, but to physically use the areas to sit on," she said.

Cllr Paddy Bracken, who originally tabled a motion for the moving of fallen trees, requested that his original motion is not confused by the issue Cllr King had raised.

This matter occurred at the April sitting of Laois County Council's Borris-in-Ossory/Mountmellick Municipal District.

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