‘People are afraid it will happen again’: Hundreds protest lack of flooding action in Midleton

Near to 500 individuals went to a demonstration on Saturday arranged by a flood defense group in Midleton, Co Cork, to highlight what they refer to as “the absence of any significant defenses” offered to the neighborhood given that Storm Babet ravaged the location in 2023.

Severe rains in Midleton and other parts of east Cork in October 2023 resulted in flooding of homes and services.

The force of the deluge triggered the front window of a hairdressing hair salon in the town to shatter, while flooding was 1.5 m deep in some locations.

The flooding occasion triggered as much as EUR200 million in damage to organizations and homes in the town.

Members of the Midleton and East Cork Flood Protection Group stated they are still years far from complete security versus flooding in the area.

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Mona Stromsoe, spokesperson for the group, informed Cork’s 96FM that they feel simply as susceptible to flooding as they remained in 2023.

“We were anticipating the flooding defence plan for Midleton to go to preparing at the end of September.

“As just recently as July we were informed it was on track to go to preparing at the end of September.

“That didn’t occur and we were informed by the Minister that it would not occur till completion of Q4.

“This is the 4th date we have actually had.”

Stromsoe stated individuals formerly affected by flooding in east Cork stay afraid of a repeat episode.

“They believe, ‘Is today the day?’ We saw in Killarney throughout the summertime that it was simply one day of rain and they were flooded.

“People hesitate it will occur once again and it will be as bad as Babet.”

The demonstration happened on Saturday in Midleton and involved groups of individuals from the town and neighboring locations such as Mogeely, Killeagh and Castlemartyr.

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Previously this month Minister of State Kevin “Boxer” Moran revealed EUR1.1 million in financing for interim and flood mitigation steps in Mogeely, Castlemartyr, Ratchcormac and Ballintubber.

The Minister stated the statement became part of a general EUR14 million allotment to Midleton and east Cork to attend to and reduce the flood threat in the area.

He stated an additional EUR5.8 million financial investment is allowing advance operate in Tir Cluain, Midleton, to continue to building and construction from spring next year. These works will secure 135 homes.

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Moran stated Cork County Council is because of get the last preparation engineering and ecological evaluation files for the total flood defence plan from its specialists this month.

He stated this will enable the council to make a preparation application for the Midleton Flood Relief Scheme to An Coimisiún Pleanála by the end of the year, which would secure 750 residential or commercial properties and all of those affected by Storm Babet.