Residents of Drogheda are flying off the handle with anger as the town continues to battle an "invasion" of seagulls hellbent on terrorising the community.
The white scavengers have become such a problem locals have called on the Government to intervene.
One man even revealed their droppings caused more than €1,000 worth of damage to the paintwork on his car.
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It comes as the former Mayor of Drogheda Frank Godfrey said one seagull even defecated directly on a woman’s face and said bird excrement covers the town’s streets like snow.
Speaking to the Irish Mirror, he said: “It’s very very bad. The town is under siege and there is an invasion.
“It’s so bad they’ve snatched burgers out of people’s hands, they’ve snatched ice creams, people have droppings on their clothes - one woman got it right in the face … she got the lot in her face.”
He added: “We have a lot of visitors and Drogheda is a very historic city.
"We have a lot of tourists but the streets are snow-like with the droppings from the birds.
“They’re landing outside restaurants, they’re very astute and streetwise.
“The gulls also attack bins belonging to businesses until they find what they want and litter will be left all over the street while they search for food.
“The noise is deafening, all over Drogheda you can hear the sound of seagulls, you’re nearly going to sleep with the noise of seagulls in your head.
“People can’t sleep at night, they’re on the roofs and they make nests in chimneys.
Mr Godfrey urged Government Ministers to visit Drogheda to see the problem the town faces firsthand.
He continued: “They’re not doing anything about it, I’m not an expert, I’m just a layman. They know there is a serious issue for health.
“I know one man who had an ice cream snatched out of his hand … if he had just looked up and instead of it going for the ice cream, say it got him in the eye, it could block his eye out.
“They have beaks which could swallow a rat. “
Gulls are protected wildlife in Ireland and we are bound by the EU’s Bird Directive - which makes it illegal to kill or even injure one.
But exceptions can be made if a licence is granted by the Department of Heritage.
The Abbey Theatre, the Guinness St James’s Gate Brewery, and Balbriggan were all given derogation orders in the past which allowed them to take nests off their properties for public health reasons.
Mr Godfrey said he believes Drogheda has so many seagulls because of the River Boyne coupled with the fact the town has so many derelict properties where they can nest.
He said: “Initially we called for a cull but that’s out now because they’re protected we cannot do that.
“It’s the last straw for us to want to go down that road. I don’t know what can be done.
“We want the eggs to be removed, that’s what is growing all the time. The seagull population doubles and trebles every year with the number of new chicks born.
“They don’t fly away, they stay around the River Boyne. There are so many derelict buildings around Drogheda for the seagulls to nest in. We want action on the matter.”
Following a meeting on Monday about the seagull invasion, Mr. Godfrey has started a group, which currently has 10 members, to help tackle the problem. They plan to hold further meetings in the coming weeks about the best way forward.
He also urged people to not feed the seagulls and said this was making the problem worse.
Mr Godfrey explained: “People are feeding them in the parks and in housing estates too. They're majestic birds and they’re lovely in the air … I’m very sympathetic to birds and wildlife but at the same time, the time for talking is over, it’s time for action.
“I would call on the council to put up signs saying ‘do not feed the gulls’, in housing estates and in and around the town centre, it is only a matter of time before somebody is seriously injured by the seagulls and they can be very aggressive and dangerous to public safety and health.
“Ten signed up for the new group which was formed on Monday. We didn’t call it any name yet but one I’m considering is the Drogheda Seagulls Awareness Action Group.
“This is only a start …we need action from the Government and we need it debated in the Dail and for there to be some sort of legislation to deal with this situation because something is going to give, it just cannot go on.”
The Irish Mirror visited some of the problem areas including the town centre and St Dominic’s Park. At the park, we were surrounded by a flurry of the white birds who swarmed around us.
The situation deteriorated and we were forced to put protective clothing on including a flak jacket and a helmet to keep us safe during the onslaught.
Local man Joseph Smith said: “It’s horrible. I have a Renault Megane, I’m very proud of my car but I’ve had to have the front of my car repainted because of the damage their droppings have done to it.
“I want them gone. It’s gotten worse over the last couple of months.
"There is a man in my estate who is feeding them. It cost me more than €1,000 to get fixed.”
Mick Hackett, 84, said: “They’re on my roof and they would dirty the car.
"Drogheda is the worst place in Ireland for seagulls. They have to be culled. We need to do something.
“Every second car has droppings on it.”
But not everybody in the town wants to get rid of the seagulls.
Ellie Vogelaar, 57, said she believes the birds are bringing her luck. She said: “I’ve won money on the Lotto twice.
“Any time I would get bird poo on me, I would win some money. I even won €5,000. If I get a bit of poo on me, I wouldn’t care … I’d be like I know I’m going to win.”
The Irish Mirror contacted both Louth County Council and the Department of Housing, Local Government of Heritage for comment.
