Council rejects claim it is in any way involved in flooding farmland along the Shannon

There was a heated argument during the latest meeting of Leitrim County Council with an Independent councillor saying he would “take no lessons at all” from a fellow member “who I heard heckling me earlier today and that is very disrespectful.”
Cllr Des Guckian said that he believed that county council officials “and extreme environmentalist friends are playing games along the Shannon” after he put forward a motion calling on council officials and engineers to be asked to explain “how and why they are cooperating with other agencies in flooding back farmland all along the Shannon and its tributaries.
“This is being done without the agreement of injured parties and without compensation for losses incurred. The Council has no right to be interfering in this way with the constitutional rights of farmers to use and to enjoy their properties,” he said.
Joseph Gilhooly, Director of Services, Economic Development, Planning and Infrastructural Services responded that Leitrim County Council is not involved in “any way with flooding back farmland all along the Shannon and its tributaries.”
He continued that the region experienced significant rainfall throughout July 2023 and as a result, water levels on the Shannon were equivalent to what would normally be experienced in many winter months.
Leitrim County Council is working in co-operation with the OPW in relation to various flood relief schemes within the county, he said.
In particular, Leitrim County Council in conjunction with the OPW and Roscommon County Council is progressing a Flood Relief Scheme for Carrick-on-Shannon and Cortober with a public consultation event held on the July 20 in The Landmark Hotel, where the public and those residents directly and indirectly affected by historic flooding in the Carrick-on-Shannon and surrounding areas were facilitated to have their say on all potential option presented on the day aimed at mitigating flooding in the Carrick-on-Shannon and surrounding areas.
The outcome of the consultation will also form part of the ongoing work of this stage of the process.
Cllr Guckian responded by saying that the council was in discussions with the IFA “about water levels in the Rinn River” and he felt there was “a lot of sly, underhand stuff going on and I think it's time that was tackled.”
Mr Gilhooly said there were discussions with “the IFA and a group of farmers in and around Lough Rinn” in advance of an event held there in mid-June when water levels were low following a dry period, however no action was taken.
He stressed that there is a long term project ongoing in relation to Lough Rinn which is at survey and examination stage “and had nothing whatsoever to do with flooding back farmland all along the Shannon and its tributaries.”
Mr Gilhooly continued that the work carried out on the Carrick-on-Shannon Flood Relief Scheme is an example of “where there is nothing sly or underhand being carried out” saying that it was a “full day of consultation for all interested parties” with “detailed publication of the options on the website which is easily available for people to pursue afterwards.”
Cllr Mary Bohan said the language used by Cllr Guckian was “not acceptable” and was “not showing respect” and said Cllr Guckian should be “asked to withdraw” the remarks.
Cllr Thomas Mulligan agreed with Cllr Bohan's comments and noted that during the Home International Regatta that took place at Lough Rinn, the water was a metre and a half higher than the minimum requirement.
Cllr Guckian said he would “take no lessons at all from Cllr Bohan who I heard heckling me earlier today and that is very disrespectful.”
Cathaoirleach Cllr Justin Warnock said he “couldn't see a situation where Leitrim County Council would be working against the farmers” saying it would be “detrimental to everybody.”