Dozens of trees in north Dublin have been destroyed and buried after a new outbreak of the potentially devastating fireblight disease, in an attempt to stop it from spreading throughout the country.
Late last week, about 40 medium-height street trees in the north Dublin suburb of Bayside were cut down by Fingal County Council after laboratory tests confirmed the presence of fireblight bacterium.
The council said there was no possibility of saving the trees.
"If the disease were to become established in Ireland, particularly on hawthorn, it would be catastrophic as every hedgerow in the country includes this species," said a council statement.
Fireblight attacks fruit-bearing trees such as apple, pear and other plants from the rosaceae family and is carried by host trees including mountain ash, whitebeam, hawthorn and firethorn.
The first outbreak of fireblight occurred in May on two whitebeam trees in Dublin's Baldoyle.
The trees were immediately destroyed but, recently, more infected whitebeam trees were discovered on Verbena Avenue and Bayside Boulevard North in Dublin 13. These were also removed and buried.
More trees showing symptoms of the disease have been found in recent days, the council's parks department has confirmed.
Despite the council's efforts, the disease is spreading quickly.
Rather than wait for the results of laboratory tests, council and Department of Agriculture staff are now immediately destroying trees they suspect are harbouring the disease.
"We are continuing to take lab tests on all suspected trees but, due to the high volume of testing, results may be delayed," said the council.
"However, due to the ability of the disease to spread rapidly and the potentially catastrophic effect of a widespread outbreak," the council added, "our staff, working with the authority of the Department of Agriculture plant protection unit, must now remove and destroy all trees where fireblight is suspected."
Fireblight was first recorded in Ireland in 1986 but has not become established here.
The disease originated in North America. In Australia, it is considered such a risk that authorities ban fruit imports from affected countries.
The wet summer weather may have something to do with the spread of the disease.
Fireblight is most active during warm, humid conditions, according to the Department of Agriculture. Rain, heavy dews, and high humidity favour bacterial growth.
Infected trees can be identified by the wilting and death of flower clusters and by sunken cankers. Another symptom of the disease is fruit and leaves on infected branches which die and turn brown but remain attached to the tree.
Anyone who suspects a tree may be infected should contact the Department of Agriculture.