Leitrim Village rallies to battle rising water
It's the small village with the big heart. Leitrim Village may be one of the worst affected areas by this week's flooding but the local residents are continuing their battle to save homes and businesses despite the rising water levels.
At the time of going to press, Leitrim Village remained impassable and a number of homes and at least one business, Donnellan's Bar, had been hit by flooding.
Part of Main Street and Church Road were worst affected but water was also reported on the Keadue Road.
At Lock 17, Carthy's Bar, locals and Leitrim County Council staff have joined owner David and his family in a vigil to keep the canal waters at bay.
"We're still battling to stop the water coming in. So far this morning (Tuesday) it's gone up about three inches. If it doesn't go up any more we'll be ok but if it goes up an inch we could be in trouble," he admitted.
Sadly the hard work of local residents and council workers hasn't been enough to halt the water for some.
One local resident said he was very proud of the way that the community had rallied around those affected by the flooding and he added that without their hard work many more would be adversely impacted.
Locals also thanked Leitrim County Council staff for their assistance over the past number of days. The Council had staff on duty in the village over the weekend and pallets of sandbags were made available to residents requiring them.
The Council officially closed the road through the village on Friday evening last however some motorists and tractor drivers chose to ignore signage and attempted to make their way through floodwaters.
Locals reported that at least 18 vehicles had become stuck in water in and around Leitrim Village over the last week.
A statement from Leitrim County Council pointed out that some motorists had repeatedly removed traffic cones and barriers marking the road closures over the past few days and they have since erected more permanent barriers in a bid to discourage drivers from entering the flooded streets.
Fine Gael Councillor Enda McGloin has also urged traffic to stay out of the Leitrim Village area until water levels subside stressing that the waves generated by vehicles, in particular large trucks and agricultural machinery, were only adding to the problems experienced by local residents.
"They are generating waves which are crossing over the barriers erected by those trying to keep flood waters out of their properties and also worsening the situation for those already experiencing flooding. I would urge all motorists to avoid travelling through the floods in the town," he said.
Fianna Fail Councillor, Francis Gilmartin described the area as a "disaster zone" and he called for compensation to be put in place as soon as possible for those worst affected.
"This is unprecedented. No one has ever seen a situation like this before. It's totally devastated this community and something needs to be done to ensure this never happens again," he said.
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Weather for Carrick-on-Shannon, Ireland
Thursday 17 May 2012
Today
Light rain
Temperature: 5 C to 11 C
Wind Speed: 7 mph
Wind direction: South
Tomorrow
Light showers
Temperature: 6 C to 11 C
Wind Speed: 10 mph
Wind direction: North east
