Flooding of River Shannon to move into 'severe risk category'

Rural Ireland is preparing for more weather-related hardship as the flows currently being measured on the River Shannon rise to a height statistically seen only once every 20 years.

10 December 2015

Flooding of River Shannon to move into 'severe risk category'

Drystock farmer Paddy Towey checks his flooded farmyard and homestead at Shannon Harbour where the River Shannon burst its banks.

Charlie Kileen and his son Dara checking the levels of the River Shannon at Meelick, Co.Galway.

A local resident cycles through a flood at Shannon Harbour where the River Shannon has burst its banks.

Dairygold driver Paddy Boland is pictured on an emergency milk collection run for some dairy farmers in danger of flooding around Clonlara, Co. Clare. Photo: Donal O' Leary

After the high levels of rainfall carried by Storm Desmond, further rainfall and wind warnings have been issued by Met Éireann, leading to an alert of severe flooding along parts of the River Shannon. The Office of Public Works (OPW) Hydrometric Network is monitoring high levels of water in the Shannon catchment area, and since 6am on Tuesday 8 December all gauges on the Shannon river have indicated a rise. The largest rise is in Athlone, Co Roscommon.The OPW has said that flood levels will peak in the lower Shannon catchment area, from Lough Derg in Co Donegal down to Limerick city, between Sunday to Monday. It is slowly rising at the moment and will move into the "severe risk category" by Sunday.

The OPW has said that flood levels will peak in the lower Shannon catchment area, from Lough Derg in Co Donegal down to Limerick city, between Sunday to Monday. It is slowly rising at the moment and will move into the "severe risk category" by Sunday.

The OPW has stressed that the high flows currently seen on the river system are statistically a one in every 20 years phenomenon.

Met Éireann has issued status yellow wind and rainfall warnings for the country for all of today (Wednesday), with the wind warning applied nationwide and the rain warning applied in Connacht, Donegal, Clare and Kerry. Between 20-35mm of additional rain are expected today, with more rain expected to fall over the weekend.

The Irish Defence Forces have deployed personnel, air assets and transport assets to the west and midlands to help people affected by the floods. They are focused particularly in Ballinasloe, Co Galway and Athlone in Co Roscommon.

Thousands of acres of farmland and several homes are already surrounded by and submerged in water due to Storm Desmond. A month's worth of rain fell in approximately 36 hours across the country last weekend when the fourth named storm of 2015 hit the country. Desmond also brought wind gusts of over 100km/h. The Government has established a fund of €15m to help those severely affected by flooding, but it does not make any specific provisions for farmland.

Dramatic footage (below) from the Irish Air Corps shows the extent of Storm Desmond damage in Athlone

“Farmers across the country have endured a very difficult situation, particularly in western, north-western and midland counties,” said IFA Connacht regional chair and flooding project team chair Tom Turley. “This situation will deteriorate significantly as flood waters move along the various river systems. Already, the IFA is hearing of devastation to thousands of acres of farmland, households cut off and animals having to be moved to higher ground.”

Turley has called on Minister for Agriculture Simon Coveney and Minister for Public Works Simon Harris to immediately visit the areas worst affected by flooding and meet the farmers, householders and businesses affected by the severe weather of the last number of days and those who will be affected in the coming days.

Below - a local resident cycles through a flood at Shannon Harbour where the River Shannon has burst its banks