Louth and Meath begin big storm cleanup

There was the start of a cleaning-up programme for the people of Louth and Meath yesterday as the flood waters receded

There was the start of a cleaning-up programme for the people of Louth and Meath yesterday as the flood waters receded. There was some relief that damage was not as extensive as had been expected during the storm.

The high tide on Monday night did not, as feared, lead to the Boyne overflowing, and contingency plans which had been put in place by Meath County Council to provide emergency accommodation for residents in Bettystown and Mornington in East Meath were not implemented.

Yesterday the county's Major Emergency Plan was scaled down as the waters abated and the focus was on dealing with the aftermath of the storm. In Dunboyne village the three feet of water cleared, but in Clonee it was still close to 18 inches deep.

Around 40 people had to be evacuated from their homes in Dunboyne and Clonee on Monday but only 15 had to avail of emergency accommodation.

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Mr Kevin Stewart, a spokesman for Meath County Council, said that a total of 125 houses were flooded in the county.

It was better news for motorists too as most of the main roads were passable, although flooding at Coolquay Lodge south of Ashbourne on the N2 meant tailbacks of up to four miles.

In County Louth there were few problems and no additional reports of houses being flooded. Some minor roads were blocked in the North Louth/Cooley Peninsula but otherwise things were said to be returning to normal.