Number of illegal firework offences in Roscommon/Longford over past 20 years revealed
Nearly all fireworks are illegal to sell or possess without a licence.
There have been almost 4,200 fireworks offences across Ireland since laws were tightened in the mid-2000s, with 117 recorded in the Roscommon/Longford Garda Division.
Most of the offences in Roscommon and Longford were recorded between October and December according to CSO data analysed by EnergyEfficiency.ie, with the spike in offences coinciding with Halloween.
Last year, there were three offences in Roscommon/Longford and ten in 2023. Almost all of these occurred during the final quarter of the year.
Limerick Garda Division had the highest number of fireworks offences over the past 20 years, with 336 offences.
Dublin West (278) and Donegal (263) had the second and third highest numbers, and there were 230 offences across the three divisions in County Cork.
Across Dublin, 1,021 offences related to fireworks were recorded from 2004 to Q2 2025 — around a quarter of the total.
Ireland has some of the strictest laws around fireworks in the world. Data shows that there has been a massive decrease in people using fireworks since 2010 when the number of offences peaked at 461.
Nearly all fireworks are illegal to sell or possess without a licence.
F1 category fireworks are the least dangerous, and can be bought and used by the general public without a licence. These include party poppers, ground spinners, Christmas crackers and some sparklers.
All other fireworks are illegal, and those caught could be arrested, end up with hefty fines or even be handed prison sentences.
As well as being illegal, fireworks can also have a negative impact on the environment, according to Briain Kelly of Energy Efficiency Ireland.
Kelly explained that fireworks can affect air and water quality, cause land pollution, and harm the wellbeing of animals.
“Fireworks release chemicals, fine particles and heavy metals into the air, producing gases like sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides,” he said.
“These substances can stick around long after the display ends, and can lead to poor air quality and respiratory irritation.
“The metal compounds that create the colours that give fireworks their strange appeal can also contaminate soil and waterways once they settle.”
