Gardaí investigating drive-by shooting in Rathkeale

David Raleigh

Gardaí are investigating a drive-by shooting at a house at Rathkeale, Co Limerick, on Sunday night.

A number of shots were discharged from a firearm at a house located in the west Limerick town.

It is the latest in a string of violent incidents in the community.

Sources said a large garda presence was visible in the town all day Sunday and Monday to keep a lid on tensions.

Uniformed gardaí supported by members of the Garda Emergency Response Unit were conducting checkpoints in the town on Sunday prior to the gun attack.

The Garda helicopter was also present in the town providing air support.

A Garda spokesman said: “Gardaí are investigating the discharge of a firearm in Rathkeale, Co. Limerick on Sunday 22nd December 2025 at approximately 9:15pm.”

The Garda spokesman said that “no injuries were reported” and that “a technical examination of the scene has been conducted by the Divisional Scenes of Crime Unit”.

“Investigations are ongoing,” they said.

Feuding families

Local gardaí supported by armed detective units have been trying to keep a lid on tensions between rival feuding Traveller families.

Local Fine Gael councillor Adam Teskey, a former chair of the local community joint policing committee, said he has been “repeatedly calling for extra garda resources” in the town to assist local Superintendent Michael Fleming and his force.

Rathkeale’s population has surged in recent days due to an influx of Traveller men and women.

The Traveller clans traditionally descend on Rathkeale every Christmas.

The festive period sees families get together to celebrate marriages and christenings at St Mary’s Church in the town.

The vast majority of visiting Traveller families are peaceful and have never engaged in violence or public disorder.

International crime links

However, a number of Traveller criminal elements with international crime links and their origins in Rathkeale can case trouble in the town during the festive period.

Over two weeks ago gardaí, directed by Supt Fleming, conducted a search and arrest operation in Rathkeale, as part of an investigation into money laundering.

Superintendent Fleming said the focus of the operation was to target "the activities” of individuals involved in “serious criminality on a transnational basis".

Approximately €400,000 in cash and bank accounts was seized at 11 locations in the town.

Rhino horns

Suspected rhino horns were also recovered during the raids which can fetch large sums of money on the black market.

On November 30th this year, a house was shot up in the town when multiple shots were discharged from a firearm at the property, which was occupied by people including a child.

The shooting at New Road, Rathkeale, occurred around 5am that Sunday morning.

No injuries were reported at the time.

Last October, a van was petrol bombed in the town.

Vehicles have been rammed, houses burnt, and a man shot and seriously wounded as part of feuding in the town over the past twelve months.