Just announced that one case was found in Co. Louth (borders with NI) today. No postings on what added restrictions this will cause yet. But as someone said earlier, "foot" (not hoof - different diseases) and mouth has no effect on humans, just that we can transport it and affect other animals. Check www.ireland.travel.ie and www.rte.ie/footandmouth for the latest updates

Closure of Visitor Facilities at National Parks, Nature Reserves, National Monuments and Historic Properties. <BR> <BR>All Coillte Forests, including Forest Parks and Recreation Areas are closed to the public. <BR> <BR>All National Parks are also closed. <BR> <BR>Other closed sites closed include: <BR> <BR>Barryscourt Castle <BR> <BR>Charles Fort <BR> <BR>Doneraile Park <BR> <BR>Fota Arboretum <BR> <BR>Fota Wildlife Park <BR> <BR>Dublin Zoo <BR> <BR>Pearse Museum <BR> <BR>Phoenix Park Visitor Centre <BR> <BR>Dún Aonghasa <BR> <BR>Derrynane House <BR> <BR>The Blasket Centre <BR> <BR>Killarney National Park <BR> <BR>Muckross House <BR> <BR>Jerpoint Abbey <BR> <BR>Kilkenny Castle <BR> <BR>Céide Fields <BR> <BR>Brú na Bóinne <BR> <BR>Clonmacnoise <BR> <BR>Cahir Castle <BR> <BR>Rock of Cashel <BR> <BR>Roscrea Heritage <BR> <BR>Reginald's Tower <BR> <BR>JFK Arboretum <BR> <BR>Wexford Wildfowl Reserve <BR> <BR>Glendalough Visitor Centre <BR> <BR>Wicklow Mountains National Park <BR> <BR>Glenroe Open Farm in Wicklow, normally open for weekends in March. <BR> <BR>Cappanalea Outdoor Education Centre in Killorglin, County Kerry <BR> <BR>The Killarney National Park Education Centre. <BR> <BR>Tiglin, The National Mountain & Whitewater Centre in County Wicklow. <BR> <BR>Notices are being posted at all heritage sites, owned or operated by the Department, requesting visitors not to enter these sites in order to minimise the risks associated with this disease. <BR> <BR>In Dublin, Kilmainham Gaol, the Casino Marino, the National Botanic Gardens, St. Stephen's Green and the Phoenix Park will remain open. However, Dúchas is asking people not to visit these sites as far as possible for the moment. <BR> <BR> <BR>Public tours have been cancelled at Áras an Uachtaráin, Dublin Castle and Government buildings <BR> <BR>

St Patrick's Day Parades on Saturday 17 March have been so far been cancelled in Dublin, Dundalk, Bray, Armagh, Limerick, Cork, Kilcock, Greystones, Aclare in Co Sligo and Fermoy. The Ancient Order of Hibernians parade in Magherafelt in South Derry has also been cancelled. <BR> <BR>Dance: The World Irish Dancing Championships in Ennis, 7-15 Apr 2001, have been cancelled. <BR>The 22nd annual Feis Mháigh Life Irish Dancing section arranged for March 17th and 18th has been cancelled. <BR> <BR>Music: <BR>The following RTÉ Music concerts have been cancelled: <BR>RTÉ Vanbrugh String Quartet With Michael Collins, Clarinet <BR>Thursday, 22 March in University College Cork <BR>Friday, 23 March in Kilkenny Castle <BR>Sunday, 25 March in National Concert Hall, Dublin <BR>Monday, 26 March in University Concert Hall, Limerick <BR>Tuesday, 27 March in Siamsa Tire, Tralee <BR> <BR> <BR>The NSO/Irish Times Tour <BR>With Míceál O'Rourke, Piano and Gerhard Markson, Conductor <BR> <BR>Tuesday, 27 March in Leisureland, Galway <BR>Wednesday, 28 March in University Concert Hall, Limerick <BR>Thursday, 29 March in City Hall, Cork <BR>Friday, 30 March in Waterford Institute of Technology <BR> <BR>Please note that the concert on 23 March in the National Concert Hall, Dublin will be performed as scheduled <BR>Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Éireann has cancelled its Irish Concert Tour. <BR>RTÉ Music strongly urges anyone who has come in contact with any agricultural areas or products to refrain from attending RTÉ concerts scheduled in the National Concert Hall in Dublin. <BR>Music Network have cancelled all activities this week <BR> <BR>Theatre: 41st annual West Cork Drama Festival scheduled for 8-18 March has been cancelled. <BR>The upcoming production of Doctor Dolittle at the Point from 2 May - 19 May has been postponed. <BR>The Drama League of Ireland has announced that it will refund the cost of Licences to perform to all drama groups who are affected by the cancellation of the All Ireland Festival Circuit. Festivals now cancelled or postponed include: <BR>Ballinamore, Castleblayney, Cavan, Charleville, Cork West, Clare West, Claremorris, Glenamaddy, Gorey, Kerry,Kildare, Kilmuckridge, Kiltyclogher, Mountmellick, Rathangan, Shercock,West Waterford and Wexford Drama Festivals. <BR>The Brewery Lane Theatre has cancelled its forthcoming tour. <BR> <BR>Exhibitions: Sligo's Model Arts Centre announced that its official opening has been postponed. <BR> <BR>Recreation: 2000 All-Ireland Sheep Shearing Championships scheduled for 3, 4 June, has been cancelled. <BR>Cappanalea Outdoor Education Centre and Killarney National Park Education Centre has ceased all outdoor adventure/education activities. <BR>Ardara Walking Festival, Ardara, County Donegal 17, 19 March 2001 has been cancelled. <BR>

Milo and Michael, <BR> <BR>There are no people visitor restrictions into the country. Disinfectant procedures are in place at air and ferry ports. The pubs are still open and there quite a lot of the major attractions open including the Rock of Cashel and Kilkenny Castle. There are disinfectant procedures at the entry to all public buildings and people are asked not to go onto farmland. <BR> <BR>The case in Co Louth is within the exclusion zone that was set up after the case in Northern Ireland. In fact this part of Co Louth was sealed off since the outbreak of Foot and Mouth in the North and there was little movement. This is a secondary outbreak within the already existing exclusion zone of the case found a few kilometres away in Northern Ireland. <BR> <BR>Some of the closures that Michael posted (listed on the RTE site) are not closed - check with www.ireland.travel.ie for accurate account of what is open and closed eg Kilkenny Castle is open as is the Rock of Cashel. <BR> <BR>Many of the hotels and B&Bs are offering special offers and good prices etc due to the cancellation of conference that have people travelling from the UK (Travel to and from the UK in particular the areas that have high incidents of F&M is still discouraged). <BR> <BR>If you are thinking of travelling to Ireland then contact some of the places that you might like to stay for special offers, there are some great deals out there atthe moment. <BR> <BR>Hope this helsp clear up any confusion, <BR> <BR>Cathy

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