By Owen Ryan
TRAIN services between Ennis and Limerick are likely to resume on Tuesday as flood water has receded, while all the residents of Ballycar are now able to drive back to their homes.
Iarnród Éireann spokesperson Barry Kenny said that divers had inspected the floods at Ballycar this week. There are plans to run a test train through the area on next Monday and all going well normal services will resume on Tuesday.
“We’re no longer an island!” said Ballycar resident Hilary Gough, who is relieved that the entrance to her home is no longer flooded.
She said that while her own house was isolated for exactly 13 weeks the problem has abated, but she wants Clare County Council to make sure the problem doesn’t recur the next time there is sustained heavy rain. “I’m absolutely determined that this should not happen again. There have been reports that there will be round table talks with the OPW and Iarnród Éireann. When they were contacted individually they both said they wouldn’t be paying any money, the OPW said it was up to Iarnród Éireann, Iarnród Éireann said it was up to the OPW. To me the bottom line is that it’s up to Clare County Council. Whatever about the railway line, whatever about the fields that flood, Clare County Council are responsible for keeping the road open. We’re paying our car tax and property tax, that’s the bottom line to me.”
Asked about the works carried out at Ballycar since the floods subsided and future alleviation plans, Clare County Council senior engineer stated; “The flood waters have only receded fully within the past couple of weeks. We will be deciding on scope of works shortly, then designing as required before scheduling implementation for later this year.”
Owen Ryan has been a journalist with the Clare Champion since 2007, having previously worked with a number of other publications in Limerick, Cork and Galway. His first book will be published in December 2024.