A field full of poison in Offaly

Offaly livestock farmer John Mulrooney has 150 acres of the finest ragworth in the country to admire across the fence from his land.

“It’s a pure disgrace. I’ve land adjoining this and the ragworth will spread and infest the whole place.

“My land is on the east of this land – downwind. So the seeds will blow in,” said John.

John is based at Derrydolney, Kilcormac. He uses his own adjoining ground for silage and after grazing. Any ragworth in his silage would, of course, poison his cattle.

“This is going on for years. The land was bought about 13 years ago by a concrete company and it’s neglected. It’s half-farmed; it’s never sprayed or topped.”

The ragworth would need to be harvested and dumped, he said. The infested land is in the neighbouring townland of Killooly, Blue Ball.

This week John was spot spraying his own fields for one or two thistles and nettles.