This was not the first time a hoax threat was issued in the area according to a local principal
04:00, 28 May 2026Updated 07:53, 28 May 2026
Carlow garda station
A suspected hoax threat to carry out a mass shooting at a school featured a sinister image of firearms in the back of a car.
We have learned that the anonymous email, which was sent to several schools across Co Carlow, contained this image of what appears to be a rifle and two pistols on a car seat. We have also learned the email threatened, along with a “mass shooting”, that there would be “blood in the halls.”
However it is understood gardai believe the threat – albeit terrifying for the students, teachers and parents involved – was a hoax. A simple Google search of the firearms in question leads back to numerous sources.
It is suspected that whoever sent the email lifted the image from Google as they sought to play a sick prank on the schools involved. Gardai will now work to establish the origin of the emails. Local councillor Fergal Browne, who is principal of St Joseph’s National School, which received the threat, said the threat was nonetheless disturbing.
“It’s still worrying that someone is that disturbed but look some of the emails were out of date and old emails as well,” he told us. After a day of panic and over 10 schools closing, Cllr Browne said thankfully the schools were reopening in the morning.
He added: “I want to compliment the local gardai for their great support around the schools and I look forward to going back to normality tomorrow.”
The image that was attached to the threatening emails
Other schools including St Fiacc’s NS, Ballyconnell NS, Scoil Mhuire gan Smal, St Laserian’s NS, Rathvilly primary school, Scoil Molaise in Old Leighlin, Scoil Mhuire Lourdes, Rathmore NS, Drumphea school and St Columba’s all decided to close amid the threat. Speaking earlier in the day Cllr Browne told local radio station KCLR about the nature of the threat.
He said: “Basically there was an email sent around from a Gmail account to numerous schools in Carlow. Now some of the emails were actually wrong. I was speaking to two principals lately and they were mentioned but the email addresses were wrong on it.
“It seems to be a generic email that came around and God knows where it came from. It could have come from a different country. It (the email) just indicates there could be a mass shooting in a school. But I imagine it’s a hoax and the gardai have been liaising with all the schools and talking with myself this morning a good bit on it.”
He added: “There is an increased Garda presence in the town as a result and it is obviously concerning but I want to reassure the parents that schools are very safe places and there are a lot of systems in place and we will learn from this as well. Hopefully today we’ll all go home safely and sit down as a group of principals later on again when things calm down a bit and see how we can react to these threats in the future.”
He added this was not the first time a hoax threat was issued in the area – citing an email claiming there was a bomb planted at another school in Carlow a number of years ago. Several schools emailed parents yesterday morning about the threat.
One school which closed – Scoil Mhuire Gan Smal, an all-girls primary school in Carlow town – stated: “The safety of our pupils and staff is always our absolute priority. We are working closely with the appropriate agencies and will keep you informed of any further updates as information becomes available.”
Gardai confirmed they are aware of the email and are liaising with multiple schools in their investigation.
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