Gardaí on high alert as gunmen open fire on homes in Co Limerick

David Raleigh

Limerick gardaí were on high alert as two masked gunmen fired several shots at homes on Monday, in a Traveler feud that threatened to spiral out of control.

A video of the gun attack was shared on social media.

Two men dressed in hoodies and face coverings, and armed with handguns, fired seven shots at homes at a halting site, situated on the outskirts of the city centre.

The men, who may have been assisted by others, were traveling in a car that pulled up to the halting site entrance at Childers Road, near Tipperary Roundabout, close to the south side of the city around 3pm.

A garda spokesperson said Gardaí were “investigating all the circumstances in relation to the discharge of a firearm on Childers Road, Co. Limerick that occurred at approximately 03:00pm this afternoon”.

“There were no injuries reported,” the Garda spokeswoman said.

Local gardaí cordoned off the entrance to the halting site and were awaiting a forensic examination at the scene.

It was the second outbreak of violence in less than 24 hours which Gardaí suspect is linked to a violent Traveller feud.

Monday’s broad daylight gun attack followed a public order incident in the same area in the early hours of Monday.

And on Sunday evening, a group of about 40 masked men armed with guns, slash hooks, hurleys, shovels, golf clubs, iron bars, and sticks, sent a call-out video online to their rivals a few meters from the halting site that was targeted in Monday’s gun attacks.

In a video shared of Sunday night’s show of strength by one group, one of the group of men is heard shouting: “Come on now...we’ll separate the men from the boys.”

“Come on we’ll let ‘em have it....Get your men, boys, yer meeting us...We’re on live, we’re on live,” is also heard on the footage.

When an unmarked garda car appears on the scene, one of the group can be heard saying they are “not bothered” by the presence of gardaí.

The group then runs towards the direction the garda car is travelling.

When asked for comment, a garda spokesman replied that gardai were investigating an alleged public order incident between Sunday night and Monday morning.

“Gardaí responded to reports of an alleged public order incident on Childers Road Limerick, that occurred in the early hours of Monday 17th August, 2026,” said a garda statement.

“Two males aged in their 20s and one male aged in his 30's was later arrested by Gardaí in connection with this incident. They have since been charged and are due to appear before the Limerick CCJ district court at a later date,” it said.

“A male juvenile aged in his teens was arrested at the scene and has since been released pending a referral to the Youth Diversion Programme.”

“As this matter is now before the courts no further information can be provided. The investigation is ongoing,” added the garda statement.

It’s understood the group of men was calling out a rival group to meet them in the area and live-streamed the call-out online.