Woman surprised by 4ft snake in cemetery

A 4FT snake discovered in a Co Clare graveyard by a local woman had been missing for six weeks but has now been returned to its rightful owner.

The woman had gone to pray by a grave at Kilmihil cemetery last week and was stunned to find the reptile staring up at her from the grass. She contacted gardaí to report what she had seen.

Gardaí from Kilrush cornered the snake while the ISPCA’s Clare branch warden Frankie Coote was notified.

Mr Coote said: “I told them that the main thing is to exercise caution and take a photo so that we could identify the snake. By the time I arrived the guards had coaxed the snake into a box with a stick.”

After several days of investigating, Mr Coote found the reptile was a non-venomous corn snake.

Following a local newspaper report and an appeal for information on the Internet, a man claiming to own the snake contacted the ISPCA.

“I met the man and I am happy that he is genuine and the snake escaped from his property,” Mr Coote said.

However, he warned: I am aware of people in the west Clare area who keep very large snakes, which, in the absence of legislation, they are entitled to do. But these snakes are being kept in housing estates. This is a cause for concern, but there is nothing stopping people from doing so.”