Limerick blaze kills 12,500 chickens

THOUSANDS of chickens were incinerated after an accidental fire destroyed a poultry farm early yesterday.

Over 12,500 chickens, just weeks old, perished at the facility near Castlemahon in west Limerick. The fire broke out at around 3.40am. Initial reports point to an electrical fault.

However, despite the best effort of firefighters from Newcastle West and Rathkeale, all that was left by 7am was a burned-out broiler house and a smell of charred chickens.

The chicken farm is owned by well-known west Limerick businessman, Conny Nash.

One local said: “When I got up, and before I put on the pan for the breakfast, there was the smell of cooking everywhere. It wasonly later I found out the reason.”

After a preliminary technical examination, gardaí are reportedly satisfied the fire was accidental.

John D Nash, son of the owner, said: “The chickens were about four weeks old and it takes about eight weeks before they are fully grown and sent up the country for processing..”

For decades, the Newcastle West area was the biggest centre in the country for chicken production.

Local chicken growers supplied tens of thousands of birds to the huge production plants at Castlemahon and Kantoher, both of which have closed.

Cllr Michael Collins said: “I am sure he will get back as quickly as possible and, hopefully, will be able to maintain his enterprise in other broiler houses in the area.”

Mr Collins said there had been a huge resurgence in chicken production in the Newcastle West area.

He said: “Prices have been improving and many producers have been putting up new broiler houses where the hatched chicks are kept until they are about eight weeks old by which time they are fully grown.”