MUDDY HELL..
Torrential rainfall sparks deluge of peat from mountainside If the bog was to move it would surround the houses
MASSIVE mudslides have wreaked havoc with thousands of tonnes of peat dumped over acres of farmland and blocking roads.
Local farming representative Tommy Drugan yesterday described the scenes of devastation as like something “out of a movie”.
Engineers monitored the damage near Drumkeeran, Co Leitrim, on Tuesday with about 12 farmers affected.
Mr Drugan, who said the surrounding areas had been ruined by the displacement of thousands of tonnes of earth, added: “You’d have to see it to believe it.”
He said the big fear now for farmers was that if more rain fell they believe further peat may
Shass Mountain.
More downpours are forecast for the weekend.
The Drumkeeran Irish Farmers Association chairman told RTE’S News at One: “During the day you can monitor what is happening.
“But at night, if more bog was to move, then it would surround houses.
“It would have the power to demolish houses.”
Tonnes of peat slipped down the Shass which is situated above the Dawn of Hope Bridge which itself
slide down
IRELAND Is set for a period of dry weather with temperatures expected to reach as high as 18C today.
There will be good spells of sunshine but Met Eireann warned yesterday unsettled conditions are likely to return this weekend.
Forecaster Liz Gavin said: “There’s going to be a good bit of
the was left covered in mud and damaged. Leitrim County Council senior engineer Terence Mcgovern said he believes the recent good weather led to the bog on Shass to dry out.
He added the conditions resulted in cracks developing in the marshy ground.
Mr Mcgovern said the gaps filled with water during torrential downpours last weekend and that led to the deluge of peat slipping off the peak on Sunday evening.
Sinn Fein councillor Padraig Fallon yesterday praised council staff for their response to the cloud around but there will be some brighter, sunny spells developing today.
“There will be some slow-moving showers about, with the odd heavy downpour possible.
“We’re looking at temperatures generally of 15C to 17C, but possibly up to 18C if mudslides. The local authority workers have been on site since the start of the incident.
However, Cllr Fallon said he believes the central Government needs to intervene and create a hardship fund for the worst-hit farmers .
Meanwhile, Leitrim County Council stated yesterday said it is working to survey the damage and give the best possible advice to local people.
A spokesman added: “Currently the council continues to assess the situation and monitor the direct impacts.
“Through this monitoring should emergency actions be identified, appropriate actions will be carried out.”
TOMMY DRUGAN YESTERDAY
there are any longer spells of sunshine with light winds.”
She added the overnight temperatures will fall to between 8C and 12C while tomorrow will be dry for everyone.
Ms Gavin said: “Temperatures will range from 15C to 18C, maybe 19C in longer spells of sunshine.”
The Met Eireann forecaster warned some showers and unsettled weather in the latter half of the week.
She added: “Tomorrow night into Friday it looks like a band of rain will push in from the Atlantic so the winds will start to pick up, particularly along the coast.
“But elsewhere winds will be fresh.”