The ESB has had to steadily increase the flow of water down the old River Shannon at Parteen Weir, it was confirmed this morning (Tuesday). This is due to the fact that flood waters along the River Shannon are continuing to rise, having reached Parteen.
The flows down the old Shannon River downstream of Parteen Weir have been increased to 375 cumecs (metres cubed per second) this morning, from a rate of 315 cumecs yesterday. As the water in Lough Derg continues to rise, an increase in the level of water flowing down the old River Shannon will be required over the next number of days.
This increased volume of water is likely to lead to associated flooding of roads, land and property in the vicinity of the old River Shannon downstream of Parteen Weir including the areas of Springfield, Montpellier, Castleconnell, Mountshannon (Annacotty) and the University of Limerick.
ESB is continuing to monitor and manage the situation and is liaising with the relevant County Councils.
Clare County Council is anticipating further flooding of land, roads and potentially property along the banks of the Lower River Shannon in the Springfield area of Clonlara in South East Clare. Council area staff have been carrying out sandbagging operations overnight and again this morning.
Limerick City and County Council is anticipating flooding in Castleconnell, Montpelier and the Mountshannon Road (Lisnagry). Council staff continue to distribute sandbags in the flood prone areas and are erecting flood defences. Pumping operations are also scheduled to get underway in Montpelier shortly.
Both councils are warning that floodwaters are likely to increase further during the next two days and that they are continuing to liaise with the ESB, An Garda Síochána and local property owners in the affected areas.
Flooding advice is available on www.flooding.ie.
A native of Ennis, Colin McGann has been editor of The Clare Champion since August 2020. Former editor of The Clare People, he is a journalism and communications graduate of Dublin Institute of Technology.