Lightning kills 23 cattle in Co Waterford

In the early hours of last Thursday morning, Mike O’Neill lost 23 of his cattle due to a lightning strike. During the stormy weather last week, O’Neill’s animals were taking shelter under a tree in one of his fields in Knockanore, when lightning struck another tree in the field. The current passed underground to the tree under which the cattle were huddled and electrocuted 23 of his commercial stock of mostly Charolais crosses. O’Neill also runs a pedigree herd which was unharmed.

“There are mothers looking for their calves and calves looking for their mothers. It’s a horrible sight altogether,” said O’Neill.

“I lost 15 cows, five calves and three in-calf heifers, 23 animals in all ... 23 animals I won’t be getting back. It’s beyond tough. I’m over the initial pain of it now. It’s never nice to go out into a field and see one animal dead, but seeing over 20 fairly left me shook,” he added.

For O’Neill, the attention turns to the financial loss. A local auctioneer, has valued the loss at approximately €27,000, but at present O’Neill is unsure whether he will receive an insurance payout.

“I was on a policy which I thought would cover me, but it turns out that I probably won’t be [covered]. It seems that I had to tick a box for lightning cover, as well having a livestock protection policy. Personally, I don’t think that is good enough. I took out the policy in good faith and I should be covered. It’s a huge loss for me,” he said.