Outcry following discovery of multiple nitrous oxide canisters in Kildare

The canisters were discovered on The Curragh

By Ciarán Mather Published 28th May 2026, 15:00 BST Updated 29th May 2026, 12:09 BST 'A scourge': Outcry following discovery of multiple nitrous oxide canisters in Kildare | PHOTO CREDIT: SARA MAHER, NEWBRIDGE CO KILDARE RESIDENTS COMMUNITY FORUM VIA FACEBOOK The canisters were discovered on The Curragh Sign up to our Kildare Live newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know you can manage your profile, and explore all of the available newsletters from Kildare Live within your account.

Multiple nitrous oxide canisters were recently discovered out in the open in County Kildare .

A photograph showing the canisters has been making the rounds on social media.

The author of the post explained that the canisters, which contain nitrous oxide or ‘laughing gas’, were discovered on The Curragh.

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And although the Leinster Leader has been informed by the Department of Defence that it recently removed the canisters (the Department are the legal caretakers of The Curragh), two local councillors based in Newbridge, who also reported the dumped canisters, have maintained their criticism in relation to the overall dumping of nitroux oxide canisters.

The first of these local representatives, Social Democrats Cllr Chris Pender said that discovery was ‘very concerning’.

He elaborated: “The Curragh is one of Kildare’s most important public amenities and landscapes; it is used every day by walkers, families, young people, horse owners, sheep owners and visitors.

“Seeing nitrous oxide containers dumped there is completely unacceptable.”

Cllr Pender also said “This is also not confined to The Curragh; it has become a scourge in different parts of the town and county.”

Social Democrats Cllr Chris Pender | FILE PHOTO OTHER DUMPING SITES

He said that he was aware of nitrous oxide canisters which were dumped near the roundabout at The Meadows estate and along the road towards Blackberry Lane, both of which are located in Newbridge.

Furthermore, Cllr Pender explained that while these dumped canisters pose a further problem; “The canisters may look empty, but they can still be pressurised; they should not go into general rubbish, and they cannot simply be treated as normal metal recycling.

“This is a real problem for Tidy Towns groups, residents’ groups and members of the public who regularly take part in litter picks.

“Many people are understandably not comfortable handling these containers, and those who do pick them up can then find that there is no clear disposal route available to them.”

He continued: “That gap needs to be fixed; the law and waste regulations need to catch up with what is happening on the ground.

“Communities should not be left carrying the risk and responsibility for dumped canisters without a safe, clear and accessible way to dispose of them.

Cllr Pender also said that he ‘does not want to see young people demonised’ over the dumped canisters.

Instead, he said, the response to this issue ‘needs to be health led, with proper education, youth outreach, parent awareness and clear information on the risks’.

He added: “We also need stronger action on supply, sale, safe disposal and recycling.

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He concluded: “The Curragh, Newbridge and the wider county deserve better than this; local communities deserve a serious response that deals with the public health issue, the environmental damage and the current disposal gap.”

The second councillor who criticised the dumping of nitrous oxide canisters was Fine Gael Cllr Peggy O’Dwyer.

She said that, over the last number of years, large canisters of nitrous oxide have become ‘a common sight’ in Newbridge and its surrounding areas.

Cllr O’Dwyer, who has a background in nursing, also noted that while nitrous oxide often used legally for medical, industrial and commercial use, it is also being increasingly misused as a recreational drug.

Fine Gael Cllr Peggy O'Dwyer | FILE PHOTO She pointed out that she had previously submitted a motion at a KCC meeting calling for KCC to write to the Department of Climate, Energy, and the Environment for a policy on the safe disposal of large nitrous oxide canisters.

“The Environment Section agreed to formally write to request information on how to dispose of the canisters,” Cllr O’Dwyer added.

She concluded by expressing her view about the current state of The Curragh: “Unfortunately, this area is being abused for all forms of dumping.”

The Leinster Leader has asked KCC for comment in relation to this development.

In response, a spokesperson for KCC said that The Department of Defence is responsible for The Curragh Plains.

“Any queries regarding The Curragh should therefore be referred to them for comment,” the spokesperson added.

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If you have been affected by the topic of drug misuse in this article, you can find resources to help you on HSE’s official website .

Related topics: HSE Cllr Peggy O’Dwyer Cllr Chris Pender Kildare County Council Kildare Curragh Defence Forces Sign up to our Kildare Live newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know you can manage your profile, and explore all of the available newsletters from Kildare Live within your account.