Update on the presence of Ixodes ricinus at the western limit of its range and the prevalence of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato.

•The distribution of ticks in Ireland chiefly coincides with historical high incidence areas of bovine babesiosis.•The infection rate of questing nymphs with B. burgdorferi s.l. has remained stable over the last 3 decades.•The prevalence of the various genospecies has remained essentially unchanged since the 1990′s.•The risk of contracting LB from a tick bite remains low even in woodlands where tick abundance is comparatively high.