Shannon Callows area remains on high alert for extreme flooding

The new chairperson of the IFA’s flood project team has insisted today (Monday) the Shannon Callows area is on the brink of extreme flooding.

“We’re not the boy crying wolf in this situation,” Clonfert farmer Tom Turley said.

While water levels have remained relatively stable over the weekend, Mr Turley said it’s imperative that money is ringfenced to remove blockages in the river system between Athlone and Meelick to bring winter flooding back to normal levels in future.

He said flooding in the area has effectively washed away wildlife, and livelihoods are now in danger.

“We have a situation now where we’re on the brink of flooding of 2009 levels if the weather takes a nasty turn,” he said. “We’re teetering on a knife edge.”