In the weeks before Christmas five bird flu cases were reported on turkey farms in Cavan, Laois, Monaghan, Meath and Carlow. Photograph: Getty ImagesMinister for Agriculture Martin Heydon stressed the need for continued vigilance against bird flu after Irish poultry was declared free of the virus since the start of the new year. Legal orders requiring poultry to be kept in secure buildings remain in place despite the declaration of “disease freedom“. Biosecurity measures on movements around poultry farms, in force since October, should also be adhered to, he said. The Department of Agriculture said HPAI has not been detected in Ireland in wild birds or domestic poultry in 2026 to date.

Source: The Irish Times January 24, 2026 12:04 UTC