Stern test of Fermoy’s flood defence

- BARRIERS WORK WELL, BUT PUMPING STATION FAILURE CAUSES DAMAGE -

Heavy rainfall in February - nothing new there. Significant damage to property in the aftermath of this rain - thankfully not, following massive investment in flood defences. That’s the story in Fermoy, for so long, a flooding hot spot.

Another plus for those charged with off-setting the worst effects of bad weather, is accurate forecasting, and with Munster, and Cork in particular, moving to a ‘Status Orange’ weather warning (second highest level) this week, no one was left in any doubt that torrential rain would hammer the region.

Co-ordinated by the local authority and spearheaded by main flood defence contractor, M.J. O’Doherty Construction Ltd, work on defending the town started in earnest on Monday and was ready for the following day’s heavy rain. The bulk of this work concerns the erection of brackets, that fit into existing reinforced walls and the slotting in of plank-like metal barriers.

PRESSURE ON THE BRIDGE

A structure that very little work has been done to since it was built over 150 years ago is Fermoy bridge, now formally ‘Kent Bridge’. A vital piece of infrastructure, its foundations and associated structures are subjected to hundreds of tonnes of pressure at the height of heavy rainfall.

A potential hazard is the build up of debris in the eyes of the bridge and in fairness to Cork County Council, they engage the services of Dermot Casey at regular intervals to ensure this debris (mainly tree branches) is removed. We’re reliably informed the bridge is regularly inspected by engineers for potential weak points.

12 HOUR CLOSURE

As a result of the flooding, Kent Bridge was closed to traffic shortly before midnight on Tuesday (23rd) and remained closed for 12 hours.

‘PUMPING FAILURE’ BLAMED FOR DAMAGE

A number of properties in Brian Boru Square suffered flood damage - The Wimpy, Fermoy Vapes and The Avondhu Bar. Richie Flynn, who runs The Avondhu Bar, said it was his understanding that a malfunction at the Rathealy Road pumping station resulted in drains being overwhelmed.

“We were led to believe that damage to property by flood water was a thing of the past, this is clearly not the case,” he was quoted as saying on Wednesday.

(Pic: John Ahern) While the River Blackwater did burst its banks, thankfully there was limited damage to property in Fermoy town centre.

(Pic: John Ahern) FLOOD DAMAGE: Cllr. Noel McCarthy, helping publican, Richie Flynn with the clean up following flood damage to The Avondhu Bar in Fermoy on Wednesday - ‘a malfunction’ at the pumping station on Rathealy Road was blamed.

(Pic: John Ahern) RAIN MAN: Denis Hoare from Devlin Street, monitoring water levels in the River Blackwater, where the flood defence barriers were erected to their full height.