New map highlights dog attacks on sheep in Kerry

The map was first proposed by Castleisland area councillor Fionnán Fitzgerald last year but was delayed due to data protection concerns.

A first-of-its-kind map of dog attack incidents on sheep has been compiled in Co Kerry.

The map was first proposed by Castleisland area councillor Fionnán Fitzgerald last year but was delayed due to data protection concerns.

The map has now been published on the Kerry County Council website. The number of sheep killed or injured is not given, simply the townlands and the number of reported attacks in that townland.

However, not all of the attacks on sheep are included as they had not been reported to gardaí.

A number of maps covering the period from 2022 to June 2025 have been produced. The maps show that attacks on sheep have occurred throughout Kerry — in coastal areas, lowland and mountain areas.

Several of the attacks appear to be concentrated in townlands in North Kerry and not far from the major urban area of Tralee — including Lohercannon, Deerrymore west, Camp, and Ballyseedy. The vicinity of Castleisland and Killarney also recorded attacks.

Last year saw 14 recorded attacks with several more not reported, it is understood. There were eight attacks in 2023, nine in 2022, and so far this year there have been five recorded attacks.

Mr Fitzgerald welcomed the map as “a good start”.  He said he would like to see the map act as a template for other local authorities and for more detail to be included in future, such as the number of sheep killed and injured.

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“It is part of a wider set of measures that need to be used and I would encourage the public to use it,” he said.

He said attacks on sheep needed to be stopped. “You are dealing with people’s money and their time. But it is very upsetting on an emotional level as well,” he said.  

Dog owners should ask themselves if they are sure they know where their dog is at all times, he added.

Mr Fitzgerald said the maps would also help authorities, such as the local council and the gardaí, in pinpointing areas where owners of dogs can be visited, asked to produce the dog licence and further asked to ensure that their dogs are under control and not allowed to wander the countryside during the day or night.

Mr Fitzgerald also called for greater enforcement in dog tagging, saying the Area Monitoring Satellite system by the Department of Agriculture needs to be employed.

• This article was funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme