About CounterPest
The only genuinely home-grown pest control business in Laois. Founded and run by John Bourke from Borris-In-Ossory - protecting homes, farms and businesses across the Midlands.
Meet John - Your Local Pest Expert
I'm John Bourke - born and raised in Borris-In-Ossory, Co. Laois, and the person behind CounterPest. I've always been a problem solver, which is exactly what pest control comes down to.
Before starting CounterPest, I spent years working for a national pest control company. I also spent time on the Slieve Bloom Grouse Project, surveying and reporting on predators during nesting season - work that turned a job into a real passion for understanding how wildlife actually behaves.
Studying the market over those years, I noticed something that didn't add up: there wasn't a genuinely home-grown pest control business in Laois. The local industry was dominated by national chains. That's the gap I set out to fill.
When you call CounterPest, you speak directly to me. Every quote, every site visit, every treatment - I do the work myself. Pest control isn't one-size-fits-all, and you don't get the right outcome from a script-driven national-chain visit.
Why Choose CounterPest?
What sets us apart from other pest control services in the region.
In-House CCTV Drain Inspection
Investing in our own drain camera means we identify the root cause of recurring rodent issues without outsourcing - often resolving the problem completely without chemicals.
Thermal Imaging for Nest Location
Thermal cameras locate wasp and bee nests precisely. For bees, we pass the information directly to local beekeepers - location and access mapped, no destruction needed.
Pest Proofing In-House
Pest proofing is often outsourced or skipped entirely elsewhere in the industry. We do it ourselves as part of the same job - a complete fix, not a treatment-only patch.
Direct Contact with John
No call centre, no subcontractor, no different technician each visit. Every conversation, every site visit, every treatment - it's me on the ground.
Truly Local
Born and raised in Borris-In-Ossory. Based here, working here, living here. The only genuinely home-grown pest control business in the county - and proud of that.
Safe, Responsible, Compliant
Approved professional products, NPTA standards, LANTRA certified, family- and pet-safe application. We see first-hand the harm that amateur rodenticides cause - we take the regulated route.
Professional Certifications
Fully trained and certified to industry-leading standards.
NPTA Member
Member of the National Pest Technicians Association, providing professional standards, training and accreditation for pest control technicians.
LANTRA Certified
Certified in safe pesticide application and wildlife management through LANTRA, the land-based industries training organisation.
IASIS Member
Member of the Irish Association of Pest Control, committed to the highest standards of pest management in Ireland.
Our Story
I started CounterPest because I'd spent years inside the industry and saw a real gap. Years working for a national pest control company. Time out on the Slieve Bloom Grouse Project surveying predators during nesting season. By the time I'd put both together, I knew Laois deserved a properly local option - and I wanted to be the one to build it.
The name comes from the simplest possible idea: we counteract pests. Unique, straightforward, and exactly what we do. It stuck, and it's worked.
"Pest control is a profession that often goes unnoticed, yet it plays a vital role in protecting crops and helping to curb the spread of disease. We take real pride in contributing to that work."
From a small coffee shop to a large food production site, every customer gets the same priority - and the same direct contact with the person on the ground. We invest in the right tools (CCTV drain cameras, thermal imaging) and the right expertise (NPTA, LANTRA) because shortcuts in this industry create the resistance and accidental-poisoning problems we then have to fix at someone else's house.
Based in Borris-In-Ossory and serving Laois, Offaly, Tipperary, Kildare, North Kilkenny and Carlow - that's the catchment, that's where I'm based to do the work properly.
Proudly Serving
Professional pest control across the Irish Midlands.
Ready to Work With a Local Expert?
Get professional pest control from someone who genuinely cares about your home.