Due to the worsening flooding at Lough Funshinagh in Co. Roscommon, people have been forced to evacuate their homes.
The committee established to highlight the concerns of local residents and raise awareness of the issue, Lough Funshinagh Flood Crisis, detailed the evacuation of homes yesterday evening (Thursday, April 12).
It stated: “Last evening two homes had to be evacuated. In one instance a mother with a very young baby was asked to pack her belongings and in the other case access to the house became too dangerous.
“Today the lake continues to destroy lives and livelihood and cause major disruption on our local and regional roads as well as a total destruction of a beautiful natural habitat.
“Our thoughts are with the families asked to leave the area,” it added.
In addition, road closures have begun in the area as the water levels of the lake have continued to rise.
Roscommon County Council has decided to temporarily close one of the roads in the area in the interest of public safety from today (Friday, April 12, 2024).
There is no estimated date to re-open the road, as Roscommon County Council has stated the road will remain closed “for the minimum period necessary”.
The closed road is the R-362 at Coolnageer, Curraghboy, and the county council provided the following diversion route: N-63; R-357; R-363.
The county council stated “there may be an increased likelihood of delays on these roads as a consequence” but that “emergency services and local access only will be accommodated”.
Newly appointed Minister of State for the Office of Public Works (OPW), Kieran O’Donnell is set to visit the residents of Lough Funshinagh today.
Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice said “I welcome Kieran O’Donnell coming down…and I wish him the best of luck. However, with the best will in the world, this will not cut it.”
Fitzmaurice has called for an “emergency order” to be signed, which he said will require the Tánaiste, Micheál Martin, the Taoiseach Simon Harris, and Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications, Eamon Ryan.
“An emergency order can be issued by government for a temporary measure to get the water moving which will work until a permanent solution is found,” Fitzmaurice said.
As of 7:00p.m last night (Thursday, April 12), the groundwater level of Lough Funshinagh was measured at 69.33m above ordnance datum by Geological Survey Ireland (GSI).
Since extreme flooding occurred at Lough Funshinagh in 2016, GSI commenced monitoring it as part of its turlough water level monitoring network.
Lough Funshinagh has been rising steadily since September 2023 and as of April 2024, the lough has reached record high flood levels of 69.33m above sea level.