Water finally moving in right direction for residents around Lough Funshinagh

With the press of a button, the powerful industrial pumps kicked in and the water was finally moving in the right direction.

“Let it flow,” OPW Minister ‘Boxer’ Moran punched the air as the crowd clapped. They were standing close to the shore of the lake in the farm of the Mee Family in Lysflynn, Curraghboy as the interim flood defence measure at Lough Funshinagh was finally in place and active.

Planning permission will be in place for two years and with the support of the OPW, Roscommon County Council hopes to submit the planning application for a permanent solution towards the end of this year.

The system will see water pumped from the lake 2.5 kms, through the Curraghboy area, to the Cross River. The pipes are on the surface of the land and the pumping will be controlled to ensure that no issues arise downstream. While works only began at the end of February, construction was quickly completed.

But, it has been a lengthy process to get to this point, full of false dawns and miserable lows. But after almost ten years, and two houses demolished, Friday, March 28th, was a good day for the local community.

Since 2016, Tommy Carney's Ballagh home has been repeatedly threatened with flooding. A bright clear day, despite early threatened showers, his home was visible from across the lake.

“It’s fantastic. Words almost fail me to describe what I am feeling. The last nine years, but in particular the last 15 months, it has been horrific,” he said.

He added that March-April of last year saw unprecedented flooding, threatening Curraghboy, Lisphelim, and Ballagh, and “that was the stage that you were fit to throw in the towel”.

“It was difficult to cope. I regard myself as fairly resilient but that was the test. I was at a very low ebb.” He said it would be “incomprehensible” that the interim solution would not be followed by the permanent solution to address flooding at the lake.

“Roscommon County Council and the OPW have been fantastic all along, and I have no doubt that they will work to put in place a permanent solution,” Mr Carney said.

He noted that the interim solution would not have happened without the support and “total co-operation” of the land owners.

A man no stranger to sleepless nights and the constant hum of water pumps outside his home, he agreed that he would be able to sleep more soundly now.

“When the wind is blowing from the west I will be listening from across the lough, to hear if the pumps are on."

IFA County Chairman Pat Leonard said it was a great day for the local community.

“They have had a very difficult number of years, it caused a lot of stress, with homes and farm buildings being flooded, but there is light at the end of the tunnel,” he said. “Hopefully in two years’ time they will have the permanent solution in place.” He said that the land and environment would need to be repaired once the permanent solution was put in place, saying that a compensation scheme was needed for farmers.

Cllr Laurence Fallon, whose own land has been flooded by the expanded lake, said that the interim measure was a first step in the right direction.

“It is not going to solve the problem but it will ensure that no family is going to lose their home between now and the next two years,” he said.

He also thanked every agency and organisation involved in getting the interim solution in place, and looked forward to the permanent solution.

Cllr Tony Ward, who grew up on the shores of the lake, said “there was a time I thought this day would never come”.

“I am so happy for the people who endured so much hardship and I want to thank them for their patience,” he said. “It is great that this day has arrived and I am looking forward to the long term solution.” He pointed out that he first proposed an overflow pipe as a solution in January 2016.

“I was born and reared over there and I could see what was going to happen. My family would have 107 acres there, plus another 25-30 flooded,” the councillor said. “I hope when the permanent solution is in place that the government provides a fund to repair this area, the fences and marings.” The Mee family, Bernadette, Fionnuala, and Ethna said they were delighted to facilitate the interim solution.

“The way Bernie described it this morning, it’s emotional, it’s very emotional,” said Fionnuala. “Because this has been going on for ten years. To finally see an interim solution is incredible.” Bernadette said that since their late father, Colm, passed away in 2021 they have invested heavily in the farm. For them, the lake is a “beautiful monster”, capable of creating life and destruction.

“Today there is a lovely ripple on the water, the last two days it was like a mirror,” said Bernadette.

They expressed huge sympathy with the people whose homes were threatened with flooding, adding that the crisis forged a new community around the lake.

“We are from Curraghboy but our neighbours became our neighbours around Lough Funshinagh. We would be here on a night and we could hear the pumps in Ballagh, and if you didn’t hear the pumps, you’d be nervous,” said Fionnuala. “We are happy that we are a major part of the interim solution for Lough Funshinagh.” Padraig Beattie’s home at Ballagh Cross was heavily threatened with flooding, and this time last year, he was pumping water 24/7 to protect the house. He said he was very relieved.

“It’s a great stepping stone in the right direction towards the permanent solution. At the end of the day that’s all we want,” he said.

The presence of the pumps provided great comfort to him and others, “a lot of people will benefit from it”.

He thanked the landowners who helped facilitate the interim solution, saying it was a “massive help”.