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Thousands of euro worth of damage was caused this week as two streets in the centre of Clare’s county town flooded, forcing people from their homes and damaging business premises.Last Thursday night, Ennis’ Francis Street flooded for the first time in living memory. The River Fergus spilled down Abbey Street and the flood’s source took locals by surprise as water surged from the Club Bridge, a point at which they said the river had never before burst.Freda Nihill has lived on Francis Street for 55 years. On Thursday, water gushed in her door destroying the floor of her 200-year-old house.“I was just sitting here looking at Eastenders and when I pulled the curtain, I saw the water on the street and decided that I mightn’t go out again that night. Then a knock came to the door and the water was just coming in. “The gardaí and the fire service put down sandbags. I thought the bags might keep it …

AN Taoiseach Brian Cowen commended the resilience of the people of Clare in the aftermath of some of the worst flooding ever to hit the county. The Taoiseach visited Ennis as part of an itinerary that included trips to other flood-hit areas, such as Cork and Ballinasloe.

DUTCH engineers should be recruited to produce long-term flood-protection solutions to deal with the disastrous flooding situation in Ennis, according to a local county councillor.

ONE of last week’s flooding victims believes he was the victim of allowing over-development on the flood plain of the Fergus. Eamon Traynor, who lives on the Tulla Road, was an objector to the development of Castlerock and Cappahard

THE worst flooding in Ennis in living memory was described as an “act of God” by Environment Minister, John Gormley.

PLANNING guidelines governing the construction of houses on flood plains will need to be more rigorous in the future, according to Minister of State for the Office of Public Works (OPW), Deputy Martin Manseragh.

CALLS for the removal of the existing flood protection barrage at Clarecastle to Latoon have been rejected by one of the top Office of Public Works (OPW) engineers Michael Collins.

CLARE County Council will not install a water tank in Doora National School despite a claim that the school has been left without water on a number of occasions.Councillor Sonny Scanlan submitted a motion at the Ennis East Electoral Area meeting held recently requesting an updated position on the Doora water supply, claiming that “Doora School is left without water on numerous occasions”. In a written response, Eamon O’Dea, senior executive engineer for the Ennis East Electoral Area stated that water pressure in the water main outside Doora School was checked within the last week and “was adequate”.Doora School is on the Doora water supply network, which is boosted at Clarecastle at the Skehanagh junction. Mr O’Dea acknowledged that there had been a number of incidents in the last year where supply had been lost to Clarecastle, Doora and surrounding areas and that this was down to watermain fractures. “After every watermain fracture, it takes about eight to 12 hours …