Donal Hickey: ‘Killer’ ragwort plentiful in both rural and urban areas

Amid the palette of autumn colours now adorning the landscape, a yellow, daisy-like plant stands out. Ragwort, even though a banned weed that can kill if ingested by cattle or horses, is to be seen on farmland, abandoned plots in urban areas, and roadsides countrywide.

Years ago, the sight of a garda on a bicycle in a rural area often prompted farmers to take action to remove the weed, known as buachallan in Irish. However, responsibility for prosecuting people has for long been in the hands of the Department of Agriculture and, judging by the weed’s ubiquity, there are few signs of enforcement.