Ten cows were killed in a freak lightning strike on a farm near Butlersbridge, Co Cavan, on Friday evening, June 6,
The incident occurred shortly after a thunderstorm warning issued by Met Éireann had expired.
It’s believed the heifers had gathered under a tree for shelter from torrential rain when lightning struck the ground nearby.
Fianna Fáil TD for Cavan-Monaghan, Brendan Smith, described the loss as "an awful and terrible shock" for the farmer, adding that such rare weather-related tragedies can have a deep emotional and economic impact.
"These animals would have sought shelter because of the downpour," Deputy Smith told The Anton Savage Show.
"Unfortunately, they were in the wrong place at the wrong time. It’s something we rarely hear of, but it does happen."
Drawing from his own background in farming, Deputy Smith highlighted the long-term effects such an incident can have on a farm.
"Cattle are bred over generations. You don’t just replace that overnight.
"For many farmers, their livestock are part of their life’s work," he said.
"This shows just how devastating unpredictable weather events can be for rural communities."
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* This article was originally published on Extra.ie.
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