I have lived in my property in Graiguenamanagh on and off since about 1973.

In that time we have experienced flooding many times however it is getting more frequent and more damaging in the last 10 years.

When we moved into the house there was still a tide line close to the ceiling in the basement which we believe was from the 1947 floods, before we moved in the basement was barely used.

We actually live close to the confluence of the two rivers, the Duiske flows under the kitchen and the Barrow flows out side the back door.

In most "normal" floods our problem are the drains in our back yard.

As you know a Storm Drain travels in a concrete box in the bed of the Duiske right through the town. Even though this is called a Storm Drain it is used as a sewer by most houses along the Duiske.

Our yard drains are connected to this drain and when there is heavy rain our yard floods (See attached photo)

As the water rises then water comes from the walls in our basement and floods the house.

We have set up a permanent flood wall at the back door of the house which is on the basement level which with the electric pump in a sump inside the door keeps the water level low inside the house and more importantly keeps the water clean with no sewage entering the house as the water is filtered by the walls.

In larger floods there is usually a cycle, the drains overflow, then the Duiske flows down the main street and water comes through the walls.

Depending on the storm the Duiske usually subsides and the Barrow rises on to the quay and eventually rises enough to overflow the banks at the rear of my house and directly into our yard.

During 2015 I had to raise the level of the flood wall as the water rose to at least 600mm in the yard.

There are times when only the Barrow rises and floods the quay but not my house however if there is a flood it usually effects us.

Solutions.

The Duiske is a small fast flowing river with many obstructions, There is a particular corner under the bridge at the junction of Main Street and High Street which is the main cause of the river breaking its banks and flowing through the arch at Doyle's Pub.

I do not really have an answer for this, there are an number of low bridges below this point which restrict flow and cause flooding in nearby houses.

Digging out the bed of this river is very limited by the storm drain and if I am honest the overflows here have to reduce the levels at my house downstream.

I think the only solution is individual protection for the houses along the river, sealing the walls and flood gates to try and keep the river in its channel.

If the storm drain could be re routed and the bed lowered it would make a huge impact.

The solution for the Barrow would be similar, individually waterproofing the affected houses and providing pumps and sumps.

I have seen the flood protections in other towns, raising the walls along the river and removing obstructions from the bed of the river.

The issue with this is that the bridge is a obstruction and nobody is suggesting removing that ( I hope).

When the river is in flood there is at least a 600mm drop in the river level as it flows through the bridge,

There is an island below the bridge which could be cleared but will come back in a few years with silting.

I do not think walls along the river are a good idea, They are expensive and will badly effect the view of the river that brings many tourists to the town.

There is also a huge issue with ground water rising behind the barriers.

There is also an issue with the two flood sources in the town, when the Duiske over flows it enters the Barrow just above the bridge, there have been suggestions in the past of a gate on the quay to control the flow, but what happens when the Barrow rises and the gate has to be closed. Bad timing here could cause major issues in the lower parts of the town.

Graiguenamangh-Tinnahinch Flood Relief Scheme Public Consultation No. 1 - Submissions

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