Major flooding in Ennis town 'unlikely to occur' due to protection schemes in place

ENNIS TOWN is protected from flooding by a number of schemes in place along the River Fergus, according to an engineers report by Ennis Municipal District.

The report was put together by senior executive engineer Eamon O’Dea in response to a motion submitted by Councillor Tom O'Callaghan at the November meeting of the district on Tuesday morning.

Cllr O'Callaghan's motion asked that: "an engineer report be made available concerning potential risks of Flooding to both Parnell and Abbey Street Carparks in Ennis if a severe rainfall event occurred with flooding and hightide levels similar that took place in Midleton [Co. Cork]. The recent Midleton flood recorded significant damage to property in the town, a town which is affected by tides such as Ennis."

The report states that Ennis town is protected by the River Fergus Upper (between Mike Mc Tigue Bridge and Bank Place Bridge) and Lower Fergus (between Bank Place Bridge and Doora Bridge) Certified Drainage OPW schemes.

The Ennis South Flood scheme, which was put in place by Clare County Council on the west bank of the river between Doora Bridge and the N85 relief Road Bridge at Clareabbey, the tidal barrage at Clarecastle, the Watery Road Flood scheme and the Lough Girroga Flood scheme all also offer substantial flood protection to the town.

Speaking in response to the motion in the council chamber, Mr O'Dea said that the flood protections in Ennis had been built, under the auspices of the OPW, to "a particular standard", and that a weather monitoring system was also in place.

"A significant amount of effort is put in to make sure the people of this town are safe," he stated.

Carmel Kirby, director of economic development for Ennis Municipal District said that €30 million has been spent on flood defences in Ennis.