by Alan Jacques
HOGWEED, a plant that can cause painful blistering and severe skin irritation when exposed to sunlight, poses a growing threat to public health in Castleconnell.
That’s the opinion of Labour Party councillor Elena Secas, who says that greater efforts must be made to combat the spread of hogweed on the bank of the Mulcair River as a matter of urgent public health and safety.
“The plant has spread in other areas and at the moment it is really blooming in Elm Vale, Riverbank, Annacotty, just next to the green area and in the immediate vicinity of some houses in the estate where many children are at play,” she warned.
“If this is not gotten under control it will just get worse as each mature plant can produce 50,000 seeds, so urgent action at Council level needs to be taken.”
According to Invasive Species Ireland, the stems, edges and undersides of the hogweed leaves bear small hairs containing phototoxic sap. The slightest contact with human skin can cause painful blistering and severe skin irritation when exposed to sunlight.
Blistering can take 24 to 48 hours to appear after exposure, and dense pigmentation is visible after three to five days. The reaction can recur for six years or more and protective clothing must be worn.
Cllr. Secas pointed out that she raised this issue with the Council last June and was advised to contact Nature Conservation. No progress, she said, has been made since taking this course of action.
“The Castleconnell CE Scheme and Castleconnell Fisheries Association are working really hard spraying the hogweed on the River Shannon in Castleconnell, but their resources are very limited and more resources are needed to keep the situation under control.
“Meanwhile this dangerous plant has spread into Annacotty and poses a growing threat to public health in the area, so it’s essential that the local authority comes on board to help keep this serious hogweed situation under control”, she said.
She is now urging the Council to develop a long-term effective weed control action plan.
In response, a Council spokeswoman explained, “A meeting is scheduled to take place this Thursday between representatives from Limerick City and County Council and the Mulcair Life Project to examine the extent of the hogweed and to put in place a plan to deal with it.”
