A young woman has been seriously injured after being hit by a firework at Eyre Square in Galway last night.
The woman was struck in the face, gardaí say.
It happened shortly after midnight this morning, when the woman was sitting at a bus stop at the top of the busy city plaza.
Gardaí say it's believed the firework was launched closed to the tourist information kiosk across the road from where the woman was sitting.
In a statement, the force said: "This young woman has suffered serious injury as a result of this incident and was removed from the scene by ambulance.
"Gardaí understand there was a large group of people in Eyre Square at the time and are now asking that any person who may have witnessed the incident make contact with the investigating team."
Anyone with information can contact gardaí on 091-538000 / 091-538036 or the confidential line 1800 666 111.
Eyre Square concerns
The incident comes amid recent concerns about anti-social behaviour in the Eyre Square area.
Earlier this week, a Galway joint policing committee heard that there's an often "unsafe atmosphere" in the area.
Local Councillor Frank Fahey raised the issue at the committee, and was told the square could be closed off at night if the situation doesn't improve.
Speaking to Lunchtime Live, Cllr Fahey - who is also a taxi driver in Galway City - said the last number of weeks have seen huge numbers of people gathering in the square at night.
He observed: "There's been assaults, drug-taking, defecation... everything that's possible is happening there.
"I'm hoping that when the pubs and clubs open there will be venues for young people to go to, and we won't have the issues we've had in Eyre Square for the last number of months.
"What's going on hasn't been acceptable - but in light of COVID, young people do need to get out and meet and mingle."
He said he's spoken to some visitors to the city who haven't felt comfortable about the situation in the square.
He noted that the local garda chief superintendent said they need more gardaí to properly police the area, and that if the anti-social behaviour persists "they will probably have to look at putting in cameras, more lighting and maybe even closing off Eyre Square".
