Emergency responders rushed to the scene in Lixnaw after the attack, swiftly transporting the toddler to the hospital where she underwent immediate surgery. The child, whose identity remains protected, continues to receive medical care as she recovers from significant injuries sustained during the ordeal.

Local authorities, including Gardaí, have been actively investigating the circumstances surrounding the distressing event. Officials confirmed their awareness of the incident shortly after it happened, emphasizing the severity of the injuries involved.

This incident has sparked a broader discussion on pet safety and child protection within homes, highlighting the need for increased awareness and possibly stricter regulations on certain dog breeds.

Met Eireann has released a weekend weather update confirming that Ireland will be lashed by heavy rain, thunderstorms, mist, and fog. These conditions are expected to cause significant travel disruptions.

Ryanair has alerted its passengers to “potential disruptions” starting today, as adverse weather conditions are forecasted to affect flights. The airline has apologized for any inconvenience, emphasizing that these delays are “outside of Ryanair’s control.”

A statement on the Ryanair website reads: “Potential disruptions to/from Ireland (Thur 13 Jun) due to high winds and low visibility. Affected passengers will be notified, and any passengers traveling to/from Ireland on Thur 13 Jun should check their Ryanair app for the latest updates on their flight. We regret any inconvenience caused to passengers by these weather conditions, which are outside of Ryanair’s control and affect all airlines operating to/from Ireland on Thur 13 Jun.”

Met Eireann has also issued a status yellow rain warning for Cork and Kerry, effective from 3am on Thursday night until 9am on Friday morning. The warning highlights the risk of spot flooding, difficult travel conditions, and poor visibility in these areas.

Weather expert Alan O’Reilly from Carlow Weather took to X (formerly Twitter) to emphasize the seriousness of the weather warning: “A few isolated showers will follow the rain, though the showers will start to become a little more frequent in western parts later in the day. A breezy day with moderate to fresh and occasionally gusty south to southeast winds.”

Temperature Forecast:

• Daytime: 13°C to 18°C on Thursday
• Nighttime: Dropping to 10°C to 6°C

Scattered and possibly heavy showers are expected to continue throughout Thursday night. Friday will begin with some sunny spells, but rain will become widespread and heavy as the day progresses. The midlands, east, and southeast regions are likely to experience isolated thunderstorms coupled with hail.

By late afternoon, a band of persistent rain will move across the country, with highest temperatures ranging from 13°C to 17°C. Coastal areas will also experience quite windy conditions.

Friday night will see a mix of dry spells and heavy showers, continuing the trend of unpredictable and severe weather.