Snakes never reached Ireland. writes Damien Enright. Islands often escape them — New Zealand, Newfoundland, Iceland and Greenland have no snakes nor, until recently, did the island of Ibiza in the Balearics, off the Mediterranean coast of Spain.

A loner pet owner who drunkenly decapitated her two snakes with scissors before swallowing their heads has escaped jail.

Ireland is home to 100,000 reptile pets, including deadly snakes and crocodiles.

Over 50 dead snakes, scorpions and tarantulas have been discovered at a house in Cork city.

Ireland overthrows King James II today - over 300 years after his death; Kenny: ‘Government has nothing to hide’ on sale of Anglo assets; and Tess Holliday is redefining the meaning of fashion. These are some of the latest and most read news on irishexaminer.com this evening.

Frances Fitzgerald confirms independent inquiry into Siteserv deal; A 102-year-old woman sees her younger self dancing on film for the first time ever; and top editors reveal the ‘write’ way to get published. These are some of the latest and most read news on irishexaminer.com this lunchtime.

More than 50 dead snakes, tarantulas, and venomous scorpions have been recovered from a house in a Cork suburb as part of the largest animal seizure of its kind in the city.

Be prepared, it gets emotional.

Nuala Woulfe says Kildare’s long links with the reptile suggest it’s the ‘snakiest place in Ireland’

Scientists working on a universal antidote for snakebite have moved one step closer to their goal as a result of promising research carried out in the USA and in Dublin.