Tag Archives: storms

Business and community leaders in Lahinch breathed a collective sigh of relief this week, following the green light for €2.85m of major coastal protection works for the promenade area of Lahinch seafront. The long wait for the start of this work, which will be fully funded through the OPW and will be undertaken under the auspices of Clare County Council, is now over. It includes the addition of extensive rock armour storm defence to the existing structure, a new concrete apron in front of the current seawall, refurbishment of existing steps and ramped access to the beach, along with development of a new universally accessible ramp at the north end of the promenade. In a recent council briefing document for councillors, the council acknowledged that the existing sea wall and boulder protection along the promenade have proven to be inadequate to prevent wave action overtopping the structure during extreme storm events. This has led to extreme flooding in the car …

Clare County Council has issued a weather warning in advance of forecasted storm force conditions overnight and during the early part of Friday. Met Eireann has introduced a Status Orange warning for Clare and is forecasting that Storm Gertrude will bring southwest winds later veering westerly and increasing to 65 to 80 km/h overnight with potential gusts of 110 to 130 km/h. Clare County Council is advising members of the public to exercise caution in exposed coastal locations.

The Irish Red Cross has launched a public appeal for funds to help victims of the storms that have swept across the country in recent weeks. “Since Storm Desmond struck near the start of the month, Irish Red Cross volunteers have been on the ground helping out people in their communities. “We’ve carried out evacuations, provided flood barriers, water pumps, fuel, food, drinking water, small cash payments and other forms of humanitarian relief such as making deliveries and helping clean up storm damage. “Our ambulances and 4x4s have been called into auxiliary service supporting the HSE, local authorities and gardaí, and remain on stand-by in many parts of the country,“ Irish Red Cross secretary general, Liam O’Dwyer said. As the severe weather continues and more communities are affected, the Irish Red Cross has made a public appeal for financial support to help this work continue. Donations can be made at www.redcross.ie or on 1850 50 70 70 or 01 64 …

By Owen Ryan   THE effects of the extreme weather of January and February are just a memory for most people now but in one corner of Newmarket-on-Fergus parish, a number of people remain marooned in their homes because the flooding has yet to subside. Hilary Gough, who lives in the townland of Ballycar, says the level of flooding in the area has only recently started to drop, nine weeks on from the storms that wreaked havoc across the county. At the moment, there are four houses, one unoccupied, that are inaccessible because of flooding on either side of the approach roads. Until recently, a fifth house was also inaccessible. Ms Gough is critical of Clare County Council’s handling of the problem, accusing them of having “never tackled the issue (flooding), despite being aware of it for years”. “There’s a huge health and safety issue here. The council has a duty of care to the residents that they’re not fulfilling, …

By Peter O’Connell FARMERS affected by coastal flooding in Farrihy , which straddles the border between Kilkee and Doonbeg, have had to hire a private contractor to help save 300 acres of land extensively flooded in the January and February flooding. “The farmers have taken it on themselves because their land was getting worse and worse. Every time the tide comes in three feet of their land is removed. It is reaching the stage now where it’s going to reach the bog area of the land,” Coastal Erosion Group PRO Tommy Comerford said. “The flooding has just absolutely destroyed the whole place. What they have done is they have got their own private machine in. They’re doing it out of their own pocket to try and protect the piece of land that’s getting damaged. Doonbeg regards this as a real emergency,” he added. Mr Comerford has revealed that a land and householder in Farrihy, Gearóid Greene, has had to spend …

THE storm on Wednesday, February 12 was among the worst to hit Ireland since records began. Wind speeds hit up to 170kph, causing severe damage to forests. The worst affected area was the south of Ireland and the damage has been increased further by heavy rain and constant storms experienced by the country since December. Damage caused by wind is called wind-blow. Early reports suggest that wind-blow damage has occurred in recently thinned plantations and plantations older than 15 years. What should you do if your forest has been affected by wind-blow? If you own a forest that has been thinned or is older than 15 years, you should do the following: · Contact your local FEL forester for advice and a free site visit. Freephone 1800 719399; · FEL will carry out an assessment of the damage and provide advice as to what to do next; · If your forest is insured against wind-blow, FEL can assist you with …

CLARE TD Michael McNamara has requested the Government to issue a “letter of comfort” to Clare County Council to provide reassurance that funding will be available for necessary repairs following the disastrous storms. The Labour deputy said the scale of destruction on the Clare coast and in the Shannon Estuary was underlined at Monday’s meeting of the local authority when members were told that the total estimate for repairs now stands at €36.8m. “Clare County Council has already spent €720,000 in temporary repairs and the need for further considerable expenditure is urgent. The council has spent this money without receiving any letter from the Government stating that the local authority will be reimbursed. County manager, Tom Coughlan has pointed out that further spending without written authorisation raises the issue of good corporate governance. Clearly the Council is caught between a rock and a hard place. “The scale of what has happened on the Clare coast is truly shocking and there …

COUNTY Clare is in mop up mode after the weekend storm, which undid much of the repair works carried out following Catherine a few weeks ago.  A considerable a mount of flooding occurred inland as a result both high tides and water pouring off the lands early on St Bridget’s Day and this was followed by further damage next day. A number of families found themselves, once again cut off by surrounding flood water.   Flooding on the main road into Shannon