IFI Pursuing ‘Definite Line of Inquiry’ Over Co Kildare Fish Kill

5th July 2026

Afloat.ie Team

Dead fish recovered from the River Rye in Co Kildare Credit: IFI

Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) says it is following a “definite line of inquiry” regarding a significant fish kill in Co Kildare this week.

The incident occurred on the River Rye (or Rye Water) near Maynooth, and it is estimated that more than 500 fish have been killed.

Fish mortalities were observed over a 4km stretch of the river.

IFI says it and its statutory partners the EPA and Kildare County Council, with support from the River Basin Management Service, have been on the ground investigating the issue.

Water and fish samples have been taken from the river and will be sent for analysis, IFI adds,

An interagency group met on Thursday (2 July), led by IFI, to discuss the fish kill and included representatives from Kildare County Council, the EPA, Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment, National Parks and Wildlife Service and River Basin Management Service.

IFI has been working with statutory bodies in line with the new national interagency protocol for investigating significant fish kills, and is the lead agency on this case.

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