FLOODING AROUND THE COUNTRY:A LARGE clean-up operation got under way yesterday in many flood-affected parts of the country, even as some local authorities remained on standby for further rain expected today.
Carlow town remained the area worst affected by the torrential rain of recent days, but parts of counties Offaly, Tipperary, Kilkenny, Laois and Galway were also flooded. Thousands of homes had their phones cut off as a result of the heavy rains and flooding and a number of roads remained impassable.
More than 100 residents of an apartment block in Carlow who were forced, because of the flooding, to spend Sunday night in hotels and BBs were ferried to work yesterday by members of the Civil Defence. Water levels in the town are dropping, but officials say further rain could bring renewed flooding.
Met Éireann is forecasting scattered showers, some of them heavy, for today. "Overall it will be changeable, but the rainfall will not be as heavy or torrential as we have seen," said a spokesman.
Eircom said nearly 4,300 faults were reported and resolved over the weekend, but heavy rainfall and flooding across the country were leading to more faults. Currently there are about 6,500 reported faults with the worst affected areas including Clontarf, Blanchardstown, Phibsboro, Portmarnock, Leixlip and Clane.
Meath County Council is advising residents of Athboy to boil all water they use from the mains supply. Water supply has been restored to the town after it was shut down when a nearby river burst its banks and threatened to contaminate the main supply. A boil notice has also been issued for the village of Moynalty.
While Carlow town continued its clean-up, Laois, Offaly and Waterford also reported problems and some road closures due to flooding and, in one case, the partial collapse of cliffs in a popular tourist area.
Senior engineer with Offaly County Council David Hogan said there was serious flooding in the Whitehall estate in Tullamore.
"A number of houses in Portarlington are affected as well, but more businesses than houses are affected. A number of roads are also flooded up near Bracknagh."
In neighbouring Laois, some roads that had been closed over the weekend due to flooding had mostly reopened yesterday, but the council was on standby for a rise in river levels again today.
Senior engineer Michael O'Hora said there had been high river levels on the Barrow in Portarlington and one or two streets were flooded. However, no property was under threat.
In Mountrath, the Whitehorse river burst its banks on Saturday afternoon but flood defences installed to protect about five homes prevented any damage to property, Mr O'Hora said.
"We have had one bridge parapet demolished by a surge in the southeast near Killeshin and one or two roads very badly damaged as a result of water damage."
Paul Daly, senior engineer with Waterford County Council, said there was a lot of road surface damage, particularly around Tramore, following heavy rainfall on Saturday.
Paul Crowe, director of transportation and water services with Limerick County Council said a consultant had been appointed to carry out an impact report following recent flooding in the catchment areas of the Arragh and Galey rivers, including Newcastlewest and Athea.
The council expects a contractor on site this week to begin permanent restoration of the quay wall in Newcastlewest, which was damaged due to the flooding last month. Kerry County Council said no major problems had been reported, and Galway County Council said that while there was flooding throughout the county, all roads were passable.
