Bid to identify source of spill on road

Clare County Council is trying to identify the source of a spillage that caused traffic chaos on one of the country’s busiest roads.

The closure of a 10km section of the N18 northbound from Cratloe to Shannon on Friday afternoon resulted in tailbacks stretching from Co Clare into Limerick, forcing the closure of the Limerick Tunnel.

Fire crews and council officials tried to clean the greasy surface using chemical dispersants but that exercise proved futile and the route had to be closed.