OPW to study Menlo after area endures severe flooding

Simply a man outstanding in his own field — Taoiseach Brian Cowen pictured arriving in Claregalway this week. Photo: Philip Cloherty

By Kernan Andrews

A detailed study of the Menlo area is being carried out by the Office of Public Works so action can be taken to prevent the kinds of flooding the area has experienced from happening in the future.

Menlo is the only area of the city to have been badly affected by the recent rainfall. The area has a turlough and due to the unprecedented heavy rains parts of the area were badly flooded.

This has led Independent councillor Terry O’Flaherty to call on the Galway City Council to lay underground pipes near the turlough in order to avoid similar situations in the future.

She said that following her representations to City Hall, several homes which had water coming up their driveways, were provided with sand bags. A pump was also installed on the roadway between Menlo and the Monument Road which is helping to keep the road open near the local school.

The Galway City Council’s director of services for transportation and infrastructure Ciarán Hayes said the council worked “closely with the local community” to install the pump and to protect the houses most under threat from the flooding.

“In the long term we need to look at what measures need to be taken to prevent future flooding,” he told the Galway Advertiser. “It is too early to say what will be done and we will need to carry out a detailed study.”

However, according to Fianna Fáil Galway West TD Frank Fahey a detailed survey is being conducted in Menlo by senior engineers from the Office of Public Works to determine how the recent flooding can be avoided in the future.

Dep Fahey has asked the OPW to investigate the feasibility of conducting a drainage scheme which would involve more direct drainage to the Corrib.

“I will be pushing for the necessary works to be carried out as soon possible,” he said, “including a full hydrological study.”

More Stories

• Campaign to raise awareness of femicide in Ireland
• Man who threatened to cut gardai’s throats given chance
• Women’s charity calendar goes on sale
• HSE warns of health risks from the rising floodwaters
• EU funding sought for flood relief in Galway
• What to do before, during, and after flooding
• Galway Film Centre ID Projects 2009 screenings
• Taxi driver punches female driver in the face
• Meet author of beauty book at Eason’s
• Hundreds turn out for Pres book launch
• Route 66 re-opens this weekend
• Firefighters could have alleviated hardship for flooding victims, says Healy Eames
• Website building in Cloughanover
• The stories of Galway’s soldiers revealed in new exhibition
• Gort charity lends helping hand in flood crisis