Lough Funshinagh flood defences 'starting to give way'

Flood waters at Lough Funshinagh are now threatening the home of a couple in their 80s, with flood defences now giving way.

The Lough Funshinagh Flood Crisis Committee shared this photo this morning, showing a driveway flooded.

“This morning an elderly couple in their 80s woke to this on their driveway. Efforts to save their home are ongoing but defences are starting to give way as the lake’ levels break all records,” the group said. “They woke through the night, but only through morning light could they see the water which is inches from their door for Easter. This simply cannot continue for them or the many others around the lake. We now need the three leaders of Government to visit the area and see for themselves the utter devastation to homes, farms and the environment and directly intervene.” Earlier this week, Cllr Laurence Fallon called on the leaders of Government to visit the lake.

“The situation at Lough Funshinagh is now at crisis point,” stated Cllr Fallon. “There are homes at high risk of flooding, farm yards and land destroyed and the rain is continuing to pour and the water levels continuing to rise.

“Water levels are now 200ml higher than in 2021 with no sign of the rains to stop. The community around the Lough is living in fear with elderly home owners fearing for their houses if levels continue to rise or if pumps fail.

“If we continue on the current path to a solution, it will be too late to save homes and farms around Lough Funshinagh.

“This is an emergency and it needs emergency intervention. The three Government leaders – the Taoiseach, Tanaiste and leader of the Green Party – need to come and visit Lough Funshinagh for themselves and find an immediate solution to the devastation that is unfolding here.” Cllr Fallon continued: “There is no doubt that this is also an environmental disaster. A Special Area of Conservation has been decimated and there is a growing risk of pollution extending over a wider catchment area.

“The incoming Taoiseach, Simon Harris, was just a few miles away from Lough Funshinagh last weekend when he stated that Fine Gael will be the party of the rural community. I urge him to make Lough Funshinagh his first rural community visit when he is appointed Taoiseach and witness the fear and devastation, and the horrendous conditions people are living in, for himself.

“It is time that the Government could take charge of emergency situations and introduce emergency legislation to find a solution once and for all. We simply cannot wait another year, time has run out for us.” Last week, members of the local community at Gortfree-Lisphelim told the Herald the crisis was now spreading, with the flood water now metres from the home of a 91 year old at the south side of the lake.

Geraldine Murray of the Lough Funshinagh Flood Crisis Action Committee said in one night it rose two centimeters.

“You can see that the water has gone half way up the hay sheds. There is a hay shed across the lough that is almost completely covered. Roads are blocked, it is absolutely traumatising,” she said.

She said that the community would welcome a visit by the Tánaiste, which was promised before, so that he could see the “severity of the situation”.

“What’s puzzling me is what is an ‘emergency’?” she said. “If this isn’t an emergency what is?”