The well-publicised deer cull in Killarney National Park could boost calls for similar action against grey seals which, fishermen claim, are now out of control because of population growth and are damaging livelihoods.

A ten-fold increase in the debilitating disease should have alarm bells ringing, writes Donal Hickey, especially as some experts believe the real rate is even higher.

There has been a ten-fold increase in the incidence of Lyme disease in the Cork/Kerry region alone, amid concerns the extent of the disease nationally is being hugely underestimated.