Ireland has the sixth highest radon levels in the world and Sligo has the highest average radon levels of any county in Ireland. Over a quarter of homes tested in Sligo were found to have excessively high radon levels.

Radon is a naturally-occurring radioactive gas that is linked to some 200 lung cancer deaths in Ireland each year. Because radon has no smell, taste or colour, people cannot tell if they have it in their homes without measuring for it. The meeting, which is being held in collaboration with the Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland (RPII), is in County Hall, Riverside, Sligo, at 7.30pm. It will be chaired by the Cathaoirleach of Sligo County Council, Councillor Gerry Murray.

David Fenton, manager of Radon Advice at the RPII, said: “Much of County Sligo is designated as a High Radon Area. To date we have measured in excess of 1,400 homes in Sligo and found that over one in four homes are above the acceptable level.

People living in these homes are at increased risk of developing lung cancer and we therefore urge householders in County Sligo to test their homes for radon gas.”

High radon levels, if found, are generally easily fixed. Remedial works can be carried out in most houses for a cost of around 1000 euro without any disruption to the inside of the house.